At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and optimise manufacturing processes for lifesaving assets at RNLI.
- Company: Join the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, a charity dedicated to saving lives at sea.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, generous leave, and health benefits.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for professional growth and mentoring.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in lifeboat manufacturing and help save lives.
- Qualifications: Experience in manufacturing engineering, especially with composite structures and NPI.
The predicted salary is between 42479 - 49976 € per year.
About us
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a charity that provides, on call, a 24-hour lifeboat search and rescue service and a seasonal lifeguard service. Our lifeboat crews and lifeguards need a dedicated, professional, and talented team behind them. The RNLI is undergoing a significant transformation as part of its industrial strategy. This includes the closure of the Inshore Lifeboat Centre in East Cowes and the transfer of its work to the All-weather Lifeboat Centre in Poole. This role will play a key part in delivering this transition, ensuring a safe, effective and timely transfer of production capability by the end of 2027.
Some of the benefits:
- £42,479 to £49,976 (dependent on experience)
- Performance related pay scheme annually reviewed
- 26 days’ annual leave plus Bank Holidays
- Time off in lieu available
- Flexible working opportunities
- Competitive pension scheme
- Life assurance
- Health and dental cash plan
Your Role
As a Senior Manufacturing Engineer, you will play a key role in ensuring RNLI has the manufacturing capability, processes and standards required to safely and consistently build lifesaving assets across all production sites. You will lead the development, validation and continuous improvement of manufacturing processes, ensuring they are robust, repeatable and aligned to design intent. A significant part of your role will involve leading manufacturing engineering activity for Production transfer, New Product Introduction (NPI) and major design changes, ensuring production readiness and successful transition into build. You will act as a senior technical authority for manufacturing methods, working closely with Engineering, Production and Quality teams to ensure manufacturability, efficiency and compliance.
As a Senior Manufacturing Engineer, you will:
- Lead the development and optimisation of manufacturing processes across RNLI production facilities
- Own manufacturing readiness for NPI, including process design, validation and production sign-off
- Develop and maintain standardised manufacturing methods, process documentation, and Bills of Process
- Design and specify tooling, fixtures and equipment to support safe and efficient build
- Lead complex problem-solving activities related to manufacturing and process performance
- Drive cross-site Continuous Improvement initiatives to improve flow, quality and productivity
- Assess manufacturing capability, capacity and process performance, identifying opportunities for improvement and investment
- Ensure effective implementation of engineering changes from a manufacturing perspective
- Provide technical leadership and mentoring to engineers and production teams
- Support the development of manufacturing standards, best practice and future capability across the RNLI
About you
You’ll be a technically strong and collaborative engineer who enjoys developing and improving manufacturing processes, coaching others and leading cross-site initiatives. To be considered as Senior Manufacturing Engineer, you will need:
- Significant experience in a manufacturing or process engineering role, ideally involving composite structures, marine products or low-volume technical manufacturing.
- Strong experience developing manufacturing processes, tooling, verification activities and process documentation.
- Demonstrated ability to lead manufacturing engineering tasks and cross-functional projects.
- Proven competence in Lean/CI tools, including Standardised Work, 6S, flow mapping, and structured problem solving.
- Experience leading NPI and manufacturing process validation activities.
- Knowledge of digital manufacturing tools, CAD/CAM, ERP systems and manufacturing data models.
- Experience in leading or mentoring engineering teams.
You will have excellent communication skills, a proactive mindset, and the confidence to act as a subject matter expert for manufacturing engineering within a multi-disciplinary environment. Join us in shaping the future of lifeboat manufacturing and help save lives at sea.
Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Temporary (up to 18 months) employer: RNLI
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to contribute to a vital mission of saving lives at sea. With a strong focus on employee development, flexible working arrangements, and a competitive benefits package, including a performance-related pay scheme and comprehensive health plans, RNLI fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture. As a Senior Manufacturing Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in the transformation of lifeboat manufacturing processes, ensuring your expertise directly impacts the safety and efficiency of our lifesaving operations.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Temporary (up to 18 months)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the manufacturing and engineering sectors. Attend industry events or webinars, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching RNLI’s recent projects and initiatives. Show them you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate your passion for their mission and how your skills can contribute to their transformation. Tailor your responses to highlight relevant experiences!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your answers and boost your confidence. Focus on articulating your experience with Lean/CI tools and NPI processes, as these are key for the Senior Manufacturing Engineer role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the RNLI team and contributing to their lifesaving mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Temporary (up to 18 months)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior Manufacturing Engineer role. Highlight your experience with manufacturing processes, tooling, and any relevant projects you've led. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about the RNLI's mission and how your background makes you a perfect fit for this role. Let us know what excites you about the opportunity to shape the future of lifeboat manufacturing.
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In your application, be sure to include examples of complex problem-solving activities you've led. We love seeing how candidates have tackled challenges in manufacturing and process performance, so don't hold back on those success stories!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smooth application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and keep track of all the amazing talent out there. Plus, it shows you're keen to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at RNLI
✨Know Your Manufacturing Processes
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of manufacturing processes, especially those related to composite structures and marine products. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've developed or optimised these processes in your previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to share instances where you've led complex problem-solving activities. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers, highlighting your ability to drive continuous improvement initiatives.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Lean Tools
Since the RNLI values Lean/CI tools, be prepared to discuss your experience with Standardised Work, 6S, and flow mapping. Think of specific projects where you applied these tools and the impact they had on efficiency and productivity.
✨Demonstrate Leadership and Collaboration
As a Senior Manufacturing Engineer, you'll need to lead and mentor teams. Prepare examples that showcase your leadership style and how you've successfully collaborated with cross-functional teams to achieve manufacturing readiness for new product introductions.
