Engineering production manager

Organisation: Defence Equipment & Support

Salary: £37,600 per annum (plus generous benefits)

Grade: Senior Technical Specialist I (STSI)

Working Pattern: Full time, Flexible Working

Contract Type: Permanent

At Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), we supply and maintain vital equipment and services for the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force. Together, we deliver a vast range of essential defence programmes and strive for what's next.

We offer 25+ days’ holiday, flexible and hybrid working, enhanced parental leave schemes, shopping discounts, and an exceptional employer pension contribution of 28.97%, to help make work work for you.

Nationality, visas, and vetting: We’re unable to offer visa sponsorship.

SC clearance wording: This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 5 years and obtain Security Check (SC) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you’ve been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining SC security clearance can be a lengthy process, and we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made if the necessary security clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months.

Step into a role that helps power the nation’s defence.

Role Overview

We are seeking experienced Engineering Production Managers to lead the safe and effective delivery of engineering and production activities within a highly regulated, safety‑critical environment at Defence Munitions Beith.

You’ll lead and develop a skilled, dedicated team of engineers and technicians, overseeing the production, maintenance, testing, diagnosis, repair and modification of complex weapon systems and associated activities.

This is a 100% site‑based role that offers the opportunity to travel to other Defence Munitions and DE&S locations across the UK and internationally. Travel is planned with reasonable notice and a strong commitment to flexibility and family‑friendly practices. Travel and subsistence expenses are covered.

Interviews will be conducted face to face at Defence Munitions Beith.

Please note that medical assessments must be successfully completed before starting in these positions, including the following - OTTO fuel medical, Mechanical Handling Equipment (MHE) medical, Breathing Apparatus (BA) Medical, Respiratory & Skin Medical. These are all fitness‑for‑work health assessments, each tailored to specific workplace hazards (toxic fuel, machinery operation, breathing equipment, and exposure risks).

In addition to your salary, you’ll also receive an annual allowance of £3,113.

Responsibilities

• Leading and directing a team to assemble, maintain, and test complex weapons and equipment delivering production output safely, on time, and to quality standards
• Delivering high‑quality diagnostics while ensuring compliance with build standards and configuration control requirements
• Providing technical and engineering advice to both internal and external stakeholders, assessing the impact of technical decisions before implementation
• Ensuring all facilities and equipment meet legal and mandatory standards before work begins, and managing risks to keep them as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP)
• Fostering and maintaining a strong, positive safety culture
• Managing production performance throughput, resource planning including workflow allocation, production reporting, technical training, to deliver against operational targets
• Promoting continuous improvement, lessons learned, and lean processes, encouraging flexibility and collaboration within a multi‑disciplinary team

Person Specification – Essential Criteria

• Recognised indentured Engineering apprenticeship or military service‑equivalent
• Minimum National Vocational Qualification (NVQ)/ Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) Level 3 within the specialisation or equivalent
• Ordinary National Certificate (ONC) in mechanical or electrical Engineering
• Lead Criterion – Experience of stakeholder engagement with internal and external personnel
• Experience of leading teams and mentoring people within an engineering environment
• Proven ability to plan and schedule work effectively to meet operational targets

Technical Competences and Behaviours

• Core Behaviour 1: Delivering at pace - CSBC3
• Core Behaviour 2: Working together - CSBC3
• Technical Competence 1: ECF4 Technical decision making – Supervised practitioner level (Eng)
• Technical Competence 2: Enhancing Service Support Systems – Practitioner level (Op. Del)

Benefits

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Flexible working options
• Market‑leading average employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Annual performance‑based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Any personal data that you provide during the Recruitment process will be treated in accordance with the MOD Privacy Notice.

Disability Confident: we want to ensure you receive any reasonable adjustments you need throughout the recruitment process. If you do require any adjustments, you can let us know on your online application.

Conflicts of Interest: the Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made.