Composites Team Leader

First Base; Nuneaton; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

First Base is recruiting an experienced Composites Team Leader for a busy manufacturing operation in Nuneaton. The role focuses on hands-on composites work, production planning, quality control and team leadership to keep the department performing to high standards.

Reporting to the Production Manager, you will lead laminators and trimmers, plan workloads, oversee autoclave and pre-preg processes, and drive continuous improvements while maintaining safety and housekeeping across the team.

Qualifications

• Experience in a composites manufacturing environment, ideally in a supervisory role.
• Practical knowledge of laminating, trimming, bonding and finishing processes.
• Experience with carbon fibre and glass fibre materials.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings and route cards.
• Strong attention to quality standards and process improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead day‑to‑day operations of the composites department and mentor the team.
• Plan workloads to meet production targets and customer deadlines.
• Oversee manufacture of composite components and tooling.
• Manage pre-preg laminating, autoclave and oven processes.
• Ensure drawings and work instructions are accurate and clear.
• Drive continuous improvements and maintain health and safety.

Skills

Composite laminating

Trimming

Bonding

Finishing

Carbon fibre

Glass fibre

Pre-preg

Autoclave processes

Engineering drawings interpretation

Team leadership

Production planning

Quality control

Problem solving under pressure

Communication skills

Job description

Composites Team Leader

Location: Nuneaton

Hours: Mon to Thurs 7.30am - 4.00pm, Fri 7.30am - 12.30pm

Salary: Discussed at application stage

We are recruiting an experienced Composites Team Leader for a leading manufacturing business based in Nuneaton.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced senior composites professional to take responsibility for the day-to-day running of a busy composites department.

Reporting to the Production Manager, you will lead and support a team of composite laminators and trimmers, ensuring work is completed efficiently, to the required quality standards and within agreed production timescales.

The role will involve a combination of hands‑on composites work, production planning, quality control and team leadership, with a focus on maintaining high standards of workmanship and continually improving departmental performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise the day-to-day activities of the composites department, supporting and developing a team of laminators and trimmers.
• Plan, organise and monitor workloads to ensure production targets and customer deadlines are achieved.
• Undertake and oversee the manufacture of composite components and tooling across a range of products.
• Carry out and supervise composite laminating, trimming, bonding, drilling, tapping and finishing operations.
• Work with carbon fibre, glass fibre and other composite materials.
• Oversee pre-preg laminating processes, including the operation of autoclaves and ovens.
• Develop templates and manufacturing processes for new products.
• Ensure drawings, route cards and work instructions are accurate and clearly understood.
• Monitor product quality, ensuring components meet customer specifications and required standards.
• Identify and resolve production and quality issues, implementing improvements where necessary.
• Support the training and development of team members, sharing technical knowledge and best practice.
• Ensure machinery, equipment and tooling are maintained in good working order.
• Maintain high standards of housekeeping, organisation and health and safety throughout the department.
• Work closely with the Production Manager and wider manufacturing team to improve productivity and departmental efficiency.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Previous experience in a composites manufacturing environment, ideally as a Senior Composite Laminator or Composites Supervisor.
• Strong practical knowledge of composite laminating, trimming, bonding and finishing processes.
• Experience working with carbon fibre and glass fibre composite materials.
• Knowledge of pre-preg manufacturing and autoclave processes.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, route cards and technical work instructions.
• Experience of planning workloads and ensuring production targets and deadlines are achieved.
• Strong understanding of quality standards and manufacturing procedures.
• Excellent attention to detail, with a commitment to producing high‑quality components.
• Good communication and organisational skills, with the ability to motivate and support a team.
• A hands‑on approach to problem‑solving and the ability to work effectively under pressure.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Previous experience in a Composites Team Leader, Supervisor or similar management position.
• Experience training, mentoring and developing less experienced composite laminators and trimmers.
• Motorsport or automotive composites manufacturing experience.
• Experience producing bespoke composite components and tooling.
• Knowledge of manufacturing process development and continuous improvement