Manufacturing Automation Specialist

Manufacturing Automation Specialist

Location: Stockport

Job Purpose

This is a key role responsible for developing and improving manufacturing processes, ensuring product quality and delivery consistency, and supporting large capital investment projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Be a hands-on Engineer , present on the shop floor, providing practical Manufacturing Engineering solutions.
• Develop timely and robust solutions for build and quality issues in fabrication and vehicle assembly environments.
• Assess and propose process automation opportunities to enhance repeatability, efficiency, and quality.
• Improve dimensional stability through effective jigging, fixtures, and alignment methods.
• Drive efficiency improvements to reduce build hours per product.
• Lead and implement quality and manufacturing improvement programs .
• Promote a client-driven culture of continuous improvement on the shop floor.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to optimize plant cost performance through capital investments, standard optimization, and waste reduction, using Lean principles .
• Lead and support structured problem-solving and process improvement activities.
• Provide Design for Manufacturing (DFM) input during early stages of new product development.
• Support project management with cross-functional activities for project execution.
• Ensure compliance with Environmental, Health & Safety , manufacturing, and quality standards.
• Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) .

Qualifications & Education

• Ideally have a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering.
• Alternatively, an HND or an Advanced/Higher Apprenticeship in Manufacturing or Mechanical Engineering.

Relevant Experience & Skills

• Strong technical background in complex engineering environments .
• Proven track record of manufacturing excellence .
• Experience in a similar role within an industrial or technical environment .
• Comfortable working in complex organizations .
• Experience with SAP for planning; ideally SAP trained.
• Able to structure BOMs (Bill of Materials) from drawings to manufacturing.
• Knowledge of 3D CAD (advantageous).
• Experience introducing automation and large capital projects .
• Knowledge of welding aluminum and ferrous metals .
• Skilled in leading practical problem-solving teams and methodologies.
• Experience collaborating with research bodies like the Welding Institute .
• Capable of jig and fixture design and procurement .
• I am proficient in reading, interpreting, and critiquing welding drawings and GD&T .
• Ability to analyze process data (cycle times, tact times, RFT, etc.) for improvements.
• Solid understanding of Health & Safety regulations .
• Up to date with the latest fabrication technology advancements .
• Proficient in standard office IT applications .

If you are a Manufacturing Engineer looking for a new challenge we would love to hear from you.