Production Engineering Manager

Oxford Nanopore Technologies aims to bring the widest benefits to society through enabling the analysis of anything, by anyone, anywhere. The company has developed a new generation of nanopore‑based sensing technology for faster, information-rich, accessible and affordable molecular analysis. The first application is DNA/RNA sequencing, and the technology is in development for the analysis of other types of molecules including proteins. The technology is used to understand and characterise the biology of humans and diseases such as cancer, plants, animals, bacteria, viruses, and whole environments.

To guide and manage manufacturing engineering projects to deliver reliable and scalable manufacturing, introduce new capabilities, and maintain high standards of quality, safety and compliance. The individual will focus on strategy implementation, process performance and facilitate the success of engineering project objectives.

• Facilitate the development of internal and external production processes within recognised quality systems.
• Establish and maintain production processes and quality for new products and improvements to existing products.
• Develop and implement measures that improve product quality (yield improvement, complaint reduction) and drive cost savings (labour, material and overhead).
• Regularly monitor and report project status across multiple levels of the organisation.

• Provide manufacturing engineering support and project management to the production engineering project team.
• Coordinate transfer of new products into manufacturing considering manufacturability and efficiency of processes.
• Collate and interpret data to ensure the manufacturing processes are effectively maintained to achieve consistently high yields.
• Identify production problems/deficiencies and use a methodical system to solve these.
• Knowledge of documentation control procedures and engineering change management.
• Manage, create and maintain controlled documentation such as Process Flows, Component specifications, Process Routers, Bills of Materials, Work and Inspection Instructions.
• Optimise the manufacturing processes – improving efficiencies, reducing wastage, enhancing yield and reducing cost.
• Collaborate across multiple functions, work with R&D, TT, Design Engineering, to implement new products and processes in a timely manner, reporting progress and status along the way.
• Manufacturing and development support for existing processes and for new products, product changes, line extensions and enhancements.
• Co‑ordinate and schedule project team members to meet planned time scales and provide status updates.
• Responsible for implementation and qualification of new or modified manufacturing and test equipment to achieve specified requirements and implementation dates.
• Prepare and maintain documentation requirements to support and control manufacturing processes.
• Support company goals and objectives, policies and procedures and regulatory requirements.
• Any other duties as might be required within the remit and responsibilities of the post.

We expect you to have a degree in mechanical engineering or a similar subject and to be apprentice trained with significant relevant industrial experience. You’ll have a background in production engineering within a highly regulated industry such as medical or aerospace and have worked in manual cell manufacturing where lean initiatives have been practised. You will be a manufacturing engineering professional with a proven ability to lead complex projects from concept through to scalable production. Experienced in implementing robust manufacturing strategies, introducing new capabilities and optimising processes to deliver high‑quality, cost‑effective outcomes. Skilled in cross‑functional collaboration and continuous improvement. Adept at managing multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery and maintaining clear communication across all organisational levels. Also desirable is experience with automating and semi‑automating processes for medical products, establishing and validating pilot production lines and performing FMEAs, verifications and validations for medical devices products and processes. You’ll have strong communication skills, excellent writing ability enabling you to create detailing specifications, processes and manufacturing documentation, and be proficient in Microsoft applications including Project, Excel and Visio. Competency in SolidWorks would also be advantageous. This role suits someone who enjoys working collaboratively with others from multidisciplinary teams, likes to take a hands‑on approach and is a proactive problem solver. It is an excellent opportunity to work in a cutting‑edge, high‑tech industry in a fast‑paced working environment on exciting projects where you can make an impact.

We offer outstanding benefits to include an attractive bonus, generous pension contributions, private healthcare and an excellent starting salary.