Shima Seiki Programmer Location: Leicester Job Type: Full-time, Permanent Salary to £40k depending on experience bens About the Role We are working with an well‑established Leicester‑based womenswear knitwear manufacturer supplying high‑quality fashion knitwear to leading UK and international brands. Due to continued growth, they are looking for an experienced Shima Seiki Programmer to join the technical knitwear team. In this role, you will translate design concepts into production‑ready knitting programs, supporting the development of fashionable, commercially viable womenswear knitwear while ensuring quality, efficiency, and consistency across production. Key Responsibilities Program and develop styles using Shima Seiki SDS ONE APEX systems Translate design packs and specifications into accurate, machine‑ready programs Prepare and manage knitting data for production Work closely with Design, Product Development, Sampling, and Machine Operators Support sampling, first offs, and bulk production troubleshooting Ensure high standards of accuracy, repeatability, and production efficiency Contribute to continuous improvement in knit structure development and machine utilisation About You The successful candidate will need to have to be shortlisted : Proven and recent experience programming Shima Seiki knitting machines Strong technical knowledge of knit structures, stitch development, and yarn behaviour Experience working within womenswear knitwear (fashion or commercial sector preferred) Ability to interpret design concepts and technical packs accurately Strong organisational and problem‑solving skills Excellent communication skills and a collaborative, hands‑on approach High attention to detail and a proactive, can‑do attitude Interest in innovation, craftsmanship, and modern knitwear technology Commutable to Leicester and eligible to work in the Uk What We Offer Competitive salary (dependent on experience) Stable, long‑term opportunity within a growing Leicester manufacturer Supportive team environment with close collaboration across departments Opportunity to work on diverse womenswear knitwear collections and techniques “We will endeavour to contact you within 48 hours of receiving your CV, however due to the nature of our business this may be delayed due to meetings, holidays and offsite visits. If you have not had a response within 7 days then please assume that your application has been unsuccessful, due to high volume response unfortunately we are unable to reply to all applicants.” knitwear shimaseiki womenswear leicester hiring recruiting dobsonwelch dominicbarclay