Background
Prismatic is a technology development company, specialising in the design, manufacture and delivery of innovative, high value aerospace products and systems. Prismatic is a subsidiary of BAE systems, led by a technically and commercially focused team. Our cutting-edge systems (such as the high-altitude PHASA-35) have clear commercial value, are developed at pace and address critical customer needs.
As a Manufacturing Engineer working in the UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) aerospace sector, you will be responsible for the creation and maintenance of manufacturing instructions, planning, defining, implementing, and improving production systems and processes that enable efficient, compliant, and repeatable manufacturing of UAS platforms and their subsystems. You will work across cross‑functional teams (design, quality, supply chain, production, compliance) to ensure new products are manufacturable, cost‑effective, and aligned with defence/aerospace quality standards.
Tasks and Accountabilities
Manufacturing & Process Development
* Plan and optimise manufacturing processes for UAS airframe structures, composites, avionics assemblies, and sub‑systems.
* Develop, test and refine process flows, layouts, and work standards for UAS production (e.g., lean cell layouts, line balancing).
* Create and maintain manufacturing documentation such as:
* Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
* Work instructions and shop‑floor routings
* Process and quality cards
* Bills of materials and manufacturing process charts.
New Product Introduction (NPI)
* Support New Product Introduction activities:
* Gap analysis between prototype designs and production readiness
* Process design and validation for new or revised UAS platforms
* Production trials, capability studies and sign‑off.
Design for Manufacture & Assembly (DFMA)
* Apply DFMA principles to influence design decisions that improve manufacturability and reduce production risk and cost.
* Work closely with design engineers to ensure components meet manufacturing capability and quality standards.
Continuous Improvement
* Analyse production data and drive continuous improvement (CI) initiatives:
* Reduce defects, cost, lead time and variability
* Increase throughput and yield
* Implement Lean / Six Sigma tools across production lines.
Technical Support & Troubleshooting
* Support shop‑floor engineers and technicians by diagnosing and resolving manufacturing problems (root cause analysis, corrective actions).
* Manage Non‑Conformance Reports (NCRs) and process deviation investigations in coordination with quality teams.
Systems & Tools
* Use engineering and production systems:
* CAD/CAM
* Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) / SAP ME
* ERP systems for routing and BOM control.
Safety & Compliance
* Ensure compliance with health, safety and aerospace quality standards.
* Where applicable, support regulatory compliance (e.g., airworthiness standards for UAS).
Requirements:
Essential
* Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing Engineering, or a comparable field, or substantial equivalent professional experience.
* Experience in a manufacturing engineering role within aerospace, defence, or a high‑reliability regulated sector.
* Solid understanding of manufacturing processes including assembly, machining, composites, and electronics integrations typical for UAS systems.
* Proficient in process documentation, engineering drawings and GD&T.
* Familiarity with lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
Desirable
* Experience with Unmanned Aerial Systems production, low‑volume/high complexity manufacturing (e.g., avionics, composites).
* Knowledge of aerospace quality standards (e.g., AS9100).
* Understanding of SAP, MES, MRP/ERP systems.
* Exposure to root‑cause analysis tools (FMEA, 8D).
Soft Skills
* Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
* Excellent communication and collaboration across multidisciplinary teams.
* Self‑motivated with a proactive approach to continuous improvement.
What We Offer
We’re proud to offer a competitive package and a range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing, including:
* Location: Alton (Hampshire), UK.
* Contract: Permanent, 37.5 hours per week (excluding breaks). Hybrid working (where applicable), giving you the flexibility to balance time between home and our offices (norm is 3 days a week).
* Salary: Competitive – dependent on experience.
* Bonus: Non contractual company performance related bonus.
* Pension: 10% company contribution, plus salary exchange options for AVCs.
* Green Benefits: Access to our Green Car/EV scheme via salary exchange.
* Annual Leave: 25 days plus bank holidays (rising to 28 days after 3 years’ service).
* Employee Schemes: Eligibility for the BAE Systems Share Incentive Scheme, Company Performance Free Share awards, Cycle to Work scheme, and a Halfords Trade Discount Card.
* Community & Culture: Social and employee engagement activities through our Prismatic Pulse group.
* Wellbeing: Access to Occupational Health support, including an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
How to Apply
To apply, please do so via LinkedIn with a covering email/message. In your application, please confirm:
* That you have the right to work in the UK and can commute to the location of work.
* That you have been a UK resident for at least 5 years and can meet any required background checks (or security clearance requirements where applicable).
* Your salary expectations for the role.
* Your availability or current notice period.
Proud to Support the Armed Forces Community
We know that the discipline, teamwork, problem-solving skills, and resilience gained through military life are a huge asset to our organisation. That’s why we encourage applications from veterans, reservists, and the partners and families of those serving. If you’ve served in any capacity, or supported someone who has, we’d love to hear from you.
We Hire Direct – No Agency Submissions or Enquiries, Please.