Manufacturing Technician (Mech)

Location: Glasgow, United Kingdom

Thales people architect solutions that are relied upon to deliver operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defensive systems for land, sea, and air. From early warning to threat neutralisation, our platforms cover all levels from very short‑range systems to extended protection across the entire battle‑space including Airspace Mobility Solutions, Vehicles and Tactical Systems and Missile Defence, Optronics, and Radar.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space.

Your health and well‑being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Manufacturing Technicians – Naval – Wiring, Mechanical, Test

Location: Glasgow

Role: FTC (12 months)/Permanent

Hours: 4 day week Monday‑Thursday / 37 hours per week

Due to demand we’re looking for experienced Technicians to join our Optronics and Missile Electronics (OME) department in Glasgow. You will work closely with existing team members, Work Cell Manager and Manufacturing Engineers in delivering the outputs from the relevant work cell as per the business requirements. With experience in Mechanical/Wiring and Test you will be working on assemblies performing manufacturing tasks in accordance with engineering drawings to the required quality. The roles are based out of our Glasgow manufacturing site. You will work a 4 day week Monday to Thursday and work 9.25 hours per day. Start time is flexible between 6:00am and 7:30am and you get 30 minutes unpaid for lunch. There is also free on‑site parking and an on‑site canteen.

Key Duties

• Perform complex manufacturing operations in accordance with the associated documentation provided in a timely and professional manner.
• Assemble product to a high quality standard that includes assembly of mechanical and optical components with careful consideration for any present ESD sensitive componentry.
• Align opto‑mechanical systems and complete the affiliated functional testing as per the production documentation including the acceptance test specification.
• Perform self‑assessment of products.
• Adhere to the defined company processes when carrying out all tasks.
• Escalate technical blockers and issues to the relevant Manufacturing Engineer.
• Ensure any quality non‑conformances are logged and escalated to the Inspector or Quality representative.
• When able, contribute to diagnostics and the finding of the root cause.
• Input and support continuous improvement actions being worked on within Industry.
• Use the company tools (ERP/Oracle, Palma etc.) when carrying out product assembly & test tasks.
• Manage and record build configuration of product.
• Escalate Health and Safety issues to the Work Cell Manager.
• Ensure all incidents are logged correctly and escalated to H&S leaders as appropriate.

Experience

• Experience building mechanical assemblies.
• Ability to interpret drawings and diagrams.
• Clear communication with relevant stakeholders.
• Follow process and instructions.
• Problem solving.
• Ability to work on own initiative when required.
• Eligible to obtain full SC clearance.

In line with Thales’ Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier‑free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro‑diverse applicants or those with a disability or long‑term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

Great journeys start here, apply now!