Manufacturing Engineering Manager in Great Chesterford

Your new career starts here with Plextek.

About the position

Company Vision
Plextek is a leading choice for employees and customers for exceptional engineering and strategic innovation to create better, safer and more sustainable technologies and products.

Our Values and Beliefs
Being a responsible business, we work with integrity and honesty. We share success with our people and our communities. We embrace diversity in outlook and work as a team with colleagues, customers and suppliers to provide the best technical solution and professional service experience. We empower each other, we're adaptable, show initiative and deliver on our commitments together.

The Role
We are looking to expand our team with a Manufacturing Engineering Manager to grow and reinvigorate our capability in this area and integrate it into our overall R&D / specialist product development services offering. The focus is on complex electronic PCB assemblies and mechanical housings, from prototype to volume production. Full time role, reporting to The Director of Product Development & Delivery. Office based in Great Chesterford, Essex. Hybrid working environment with minimum of 3 days in the office. Travel within the UK and internationally; visiting clients, supply chain partners and contract manufacturing partners where required to deliver projects or support sales.

Responsibilities

• Provide design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA) support to the engineering team.
• Co-ordinate with project managers, technicians and technical staff to successfully deliver electronics prototypes.
• Support transfer to manufacture, typically for low-to-mid volume products incorporating complex RF technology.
• Manage and co-ordinate supply chain partners and contract manufacturers in the UK and internationally as required for each project.
• Identify potential suppliers and create plans to enable future low and high-volume manufacturing in the UK and overseas.
• Work with our Quality Manager to assess supplier performance, address issues and hold our suppliers to account.
• Drive our manufacturing processes and keep us up to date with the latest technologies and best practices.
• Provide input to bids and proposals for new business.
• Support our strategy to grow our product supply business, integrated into our overall R&D / specialist product development offering.
• Line management of a small team of technicians, layout specialists, and mechanical engineers.

The Person
A confident and clear communicator and team player, able to engage credibly with colleagues and clients ranging from technicians and engineers to senior executives. Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, consultancy-style environment with frequent client interaction and changing priorities. Proactive and takes initiative to get the job done, with a rigorous attention to detail. Experience with the full product development lifecycle, particularly in products incorporating complex RF technology. Good understanding of electronics manufacturing methods, techniques and equipment; including SMT. Literate in mechanical and electronic design and development; good analytical and problem-solving skills. Experience with line management and supporting a team to develop their capabilities.

The following would be beneficial:

• A good network of supply chain partners and contract manufacturers in the UK and internationally.
• Experience of manufacture for the space sector (ESA / ECSS standards and/or flight model verification testing).

The Rewards
In return, we offer an excellent package, a stimulating environment and a real interest in your development to encourage you to achieve your full potential. We are a versatile business, able to support career progression as appropriate. We are based just south of Cambridge with easy road and rail routes to the vibrant city centre. We provide a friendly and supportive working environment including regular on-site and off-site social events.