At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape manufacturing solutions and support bid activity with technical input.
- Company: Join a supportive team that values engineering expertise and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 4-day work week, competitive salary, and opportunities for skill development.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for continuous improvement and problem-solving.
- Why this job: Work on exciting projects and make a real impact in manufacturing.
- Qualifications: Relevant engineering qualification and experience with composite & polymer materials.
The predicted salary is between 38250 - 46750 £ per year.
We are looking for a practical, detail-focused Bid Manufacturing Engineer to help shape manufacturing solutions at the earliest stages of new opportunities. This is a key role supporting bid activity, defining materials and manufacturing approaches, and providing technical manufacturing input that helps our teams produce accurate, competitive and achievable proposals. You will work closely with Estimating, Projects, Business Development and Manufacturing Engineering colleagues, helping to translate customer requirements and technical information into robust manufacturing plans, work breakdown structures and supporting documentation.
As our Bid Manufacturing Engineer, you will be responsible for defining manufacturing engineering information during the bid phase. You will help identify suitable materials, manufacturing methods and process routes, while providing technical input that supports accurate estimating and successful project handover. When required, you will also support wider manufacturing engineering activity, including process planning, production performance improvement, test sample definition and manufacture, CATIA v5 drawing and model interpretation, manufacturing instructions, and technical communications with customers, suppliers and internal teams.
What you'll be doing:
- Support in defining manufacturing materials and manufacturing methods at bid phase.
- Provide Manufacturing Work Breakdown Structures (WBSs) to support bid estimating.
- Provide robust communication and support to the Estimating, Projects and the Business Development teams.
- Provide technical manufacturing information in support of collation of bid documentation.
- Ensure WBS data is compatible for data entry into the company MRP system.
Additional responsibilities:
- Provide Manufacturing Information Sheets, route cards, bill of materials and manufacturing specification data in accordance with company standards.
- Develop the most cost effective and efficient solutions that satisfy design to cost and design for manufacture best practice.
- Specify material requirements, define suitable methods of manufacture and identify and implement tooling and equipment.
- Creation of test specifications and manufacture of composite and polymer test samples.
- Develop processes to a production steady state standard that meets specification and design intent.
- Support design and customer reviews and other meetings as required.
- Support Production and Quality Assurance in resolving production problems and non-conformances.
- Utilise Lean Principles to improve the product, process flow, build cycle and waste reduction.
- Train employees on process, applications, and manufacturing specification data.
About you:
- Relevant engineering/manufacturing/chemistry qualification and/or equivalent experience.
- Specific experience of composite & polymer materials and materials/component processing.
- Computer literate, windows based and 3D model-based definition (CATIA v5 preferred).
- Ability to develop successful working relationships, work on own initiative and as part of a team.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate at all levels.
- Strong problem-solving ability applied through a practical approach.
- Continuous Improvement, zero defect and customer focused mind-set.
- A good team player with a flexible attitude to work load.
Why join us?
- We offer a supportive working environment where engineering expertise is valued and people are encouraged to contribute ideas, solve problems and make a practical difference.
- You will be part of a collaborative team working on technically interesting manufacturing projects, with the opportunity to develop your skills and support continuous improvement across the business.
- 4-day working week, helping support a better work-life balance.
- Opportunity to work on varied and technically challenging manufacturing projects.
- Collaborative team environment with close links across Engineering, Projects, Estimating and Business Development.
- Scope to contribute to process improvements and practical manufacturing solutions.
If you enjoy combining technical problem-solving with practical manufacturing knowledge, and you are confident working across teams to support high-quality bid and production outcomes, we would like to hear from you.
Manufacturing Engineer employer: Tods Defence Limited
At Tods, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a dynamic and supportive work environment in Portland, Dorset. With a strong focus on employee development and a commitment to work-life balance through our 4-day working week, we provide numerous benefits including generous holiday allowances, a company pension scheme, and access to private healthcare. Join us to be part of a fast-growing business where your skills will be nurtured, and every day brings new challenges and opportunities for growth.
