Manufacturing Process Engineer - Assembly

Help turn advanced welding technology into reliable production StirLight is growing, and we are looking for an experienced Friction Stir Welding Process and Manufacturing Engineer who enjoys being hands on with the machinery and making things happen. You will spend much of your time setting up, operating and monitoring advanced manufacturing equipment, delivering FSW trials and production work, and finding practical ways to make our processes safer, more reliable and more efficient. StirLight is a growing UK advanced-manufacturing business making Friction Stir Welding more accessible at a commercial scale. From our facility in Holmewood, Chesterfield, we combine advanced machinery with deep technical knowledge to help customers move from early process development through to prototypes, pilot production and scalable manufacturing. Our work supports applications across aerospace, defence, automotive, energy and nuclear—industries where weld quality, process control and traceability really matter. We are also developing StirSense, our proprietary platform for real-time FSW monitoring and quality assurance. Joining us now means having the opportunity to influence how our production capability, equipment and working practices develop as the business grows. Reporting to our Specialist FSW Project Lead, you will help deliver safe, controlled and repeatable FSW operations across customer, development and production projects. Your main focus will be machine operation and manufacturing delivery. Setting up, operating and monitoring FSW equipment safely and confidently. Delivering planned welding trials and repeatable production cycles. Operating CNC machinery and robotic systems used within the manufacturing process. Supporting CNC and robot programming, setting, prove-out and adjustment within your level of competence. Monitoring machine performance and responding appropriately to abnormal conditions. Recording machine settings, process parameters, inspection results and production information accurately. Identifying and investigating welding, equipment or quality problems. Completing operator checks, routine maintenance and basic equipment care. Maintaining a safe, organised and effective workshop environment. Sharing practical knowledge and helping to train future operators or junior colleagues. Weld quality and repeatability. Machine reliability and availability. Cycle time and production efficiency. Tooling, fixtures and machine setup. Material waste and operating cost. You will be expected to take ownership of an improvement project during your first six months and demonstrate the difference it has made. At least 2 years’ practical Friction Stir Welding experience. Experience supporting welding trials, parameter adjustment and troubleshooting. An understanding of how process parameters, tooling and setup affect weld quality. The ability to follow risk assessments, safe systems of work and controlled operating procedures. Confidence interpreting process data, inspection results and production information. A practical, methodical approach to diagnosing operational or quality problems. A relevant engineering, manufacturing or machining qualification—or equivalent practical industrial experience. A willingness to work predominantly onsite and move between machine operation, trials, production and documentation as priorities change. You do not need to arrive knowing every machine or system we use. Experience operating CNC machinery. CNC programming, setting or prove-out experience. Experience operating or supporting industrial robots. Robot teaching or programming experience. Familiarity with engineering drawings, tolerances, tooling and fixtures. CAD capability. Experience within aerospace, nuclear, defence, automotive, energy or another high-integrity manufacturing environment. Lean manufacturing, structured problem-solving, SPC or continuous-improvement training. Certificates relating to machinery operation, lifting equipment, first aid or other workshop responsibilities. Previous robot programming experience is not essential. Raise problems early and help solve them. Stay focused during detailed or repetitive production activity. You will be joining at an exciting stage in our growth, following £1.25 million of pre-seed investment and grant funding to accelerate our technology and manufacturing capability. Work directly with advanced FSW, CNC and robotic equipment. Contribute to projects in industries where engineering quality has real consequences. See the direct results of your work in customer trials and manufactured components. Build broader experience across production, process improvement and advanced manufacturing. Help shape operating standards and capability as the business grows.