Manufacturing Engineer – Defence Fabrication
North West | £50,000 | Permanent
We're recruiting a Manufacturing Engineer for a long-established UK defence engineering specialist at their North West Engineering Centre of Excellence. You'll be supporting fabrication and heavy manufacturing operations, focusing on process improvement, build quality, and production efficiency for large-scale welded and fabricated assemblies used in military applications.
What you'll be doing:
Optimising and standardising manufacturing processes for complex welded and fabricated assemblies
Identifying opportunities to reduce waste, improve cycle times, and enhance tooling/fixture effectiveness
Analysing quality trends and driving corrective and preventive actions
Developing and managing structured improvement plans with measurable outcomes
Leading cross-functional teams to embed lean practices and improve cost/delivery performance
Supporting NPI activity with focus on Design for Manufacturability (DFM) in fabrication and welding
Promoting continuous improvement using structured problem-solving tools (8D, CAPA)
Ensuring compliance with EHS, manufacturing, and quality standards across fabrication processes
Implementing containment and long-term corrective actions for process deviations
What you need:
HND, Higher/Advanced Apprenticeship, or Degree in Manufacturing or Mechanical Engineering
Proven manufacturing engineering background in technical, industrial, or heavy fabrication environment
Experience with large-scale fabrications, welding processes, or heavy manufacturing flows
Practical knowledge of lean tools and continuous improvement methodologies
Strong problem-solving skills with hands-on, shop-floor-led approach
Experience with SAP or other ERP systems (training available)
Clear communicator able to collaborate across operational and engineering teams
What's on offer:
£50,000 per annum
4% employee / 7% employer pension
Half-day Fridays
Life assurance and enhanced sick pay (rising with service)
Wellbeing initiatives and Employee Assistance Programme
Long service awards and additional holidays
On-site parking and EV charging
Cycle to Work Scheme
Modern, collaborative working environment
This is a permanent position with a long-established defence engineering specialist delivering highly engineered mechanical and structural systems for demanding military environments.
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