Job Title: Manufacturing Engineering Process Engineer
Location: Gloucester
Pay Rate: Negotiable
Contract Length: 12 Months
Role Summary/Purpose
To gain a deep understanding of existing aerospace component manufacturing processes and equipment, quantify how they perform, and use this insight to inform the design, implementation and optimisation of new production lines and facilities. This role will analyse current operations (time, utilisation, efficiency, waste), create accurate value stream maps, and support line and facility design so that the future production system is efficient at launch and capable of scaling to volume.
Key Responsibilities
* Understand and quantify the existing process: Study the current aerospace component manufacturing processes and machines in detail to understand how work actually flows on the shop floor.
* Conduct time studies on all major steps and support activities (set-up, changeover, inspection, rework, material handling, etc.), maintaining an accurate and current picture of process timings.
* Measure machine utilisation, OEE, downtime causes and bottlenecks; use discreet event simulation to support lean line/line balancing.
* Create and maintain value stream maps for current-state processes, highlighting non-value-add activities and improvement opportunities.
* Provide input into new line and facility design: Translate current-state analysis into requirements and design inputs for new or modified production lines (cycle times, burrer sizes, stalling levels, equipment capacities).
* Work with Manufacturing Engineering, Facilities and other stakeholders to ensure line layouts, cell designs and production spaces reflect real process needs and constraints.
* Support decisions on equipment selection, automation versus manual operations and line balancing based on measured data.
* Provide input into the facility layout (flow of people, materials and information), including ancillary spaces such as rework, inspection, WIP burrers and maintenance areas.
* Define acceptance criteria for new equipment and line performance; support commissioning, trials and dry runs, checking that new lines meet expected performance and identifying gaps.
* Update future-state value stream maps as lines are installed and validated.
* Monitor line performance versus plan during ramp-up and recommend targeted improvements.
* Establish baseline performance (e.g., OEE, throughput, WIP, lead time) and track it through pilot and volume phases.
* Identify initiatives to increase utilisation, reduce waste and stabilise processes as volumes grow.
* Support the creation and maintenance of standard work, work instructions and training material based on accurate timings and best practice.
* Contribute to the Scope of Work for production equipment, support risk assessments (e.g., process FMEA) and provide input to utilities and infrastructure planning.
Skills and Experience
* Strong engineering awareness, ideally in aerospace or complex component manufacturing (mechanical, industrial or manufacturing engineering).
* Experience with time studies, work measurement and value stream mapping, with a focus on maintaining accurate, up-to-date timings.
* Automation/robotics experience.
* Familiarity with OEE, utilisation, line balancing and lean manufacturing principles.
* Ability to interpret production data, layouts and process documentation, and convert them into actionable design inputs.
* Comfortable working on the shop floor, observing processes and engaging with operators and supervisors.
* Effective communication skills to work with cross-functional teams (Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, Quality, Facilities, HSE, etc.).
* Experience with NPI or industrialisation projects is highly desirable.
* Analytical, data-driven, with strong attention to detail and timing accuracy.
* Curious about how processes really work and willing to spend time in the operation.
* Able to challenge assumptions constructively and influence design decisions.
* Comfortable working across pre-launch, commissioning and volume production phases.
Personal Attributes
Analytical and data-driven, with strong attention to detail and timing accuracy. Curious about how processes really work and willing to spend time in the operation. Able to challenge assumptions constructively and influence design decisions. Comfortable working across pre-launch, commissioning and volume production phases.
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