Contract NPI Manufacturing Engineer

Verso Recruitment Group; Hereford; On-site; GBP 62,000 - 69,000; Part time

Job summary

Verso Recruitment Group is seeking a hands‑on Contract NPI Manufacturing Engineer in Hereford to stabilise prototype builds and transition them into repeatable production. You will design tooling, jig/fixture concepts, and documentation, working closely with design, production and test teams to mature assemblies for shop floor manufacture.

The role emphasizes early industrialisation, DfM/DfA improvements, and practical problem solving in a fast‑paced environment.

Qualifications

• Background in NPI, prototype‑to‑production transition, or early industrialisation.

Responsibilities

• Lead NPI activity to transition electromechanical prototypes into stable, repeatable production.
• Design and develop jigs, fixtures, and simple tooling to support assembly, alignment, and test.
• Work with design engineering to refine product architecture for manufacturability (DfM/DfA).
• Build and validate early assemblies, capturing issues and feeding structured feedback into design.
• Create clear build instructions, process maps, and early production documentation.
• Support goods‑in inspection and define initial inspection criteria for incoming components.
• Run prototype testing and provide concise, actionable feedback to engineering teams.
• Improve assembly flow, reduce build variability, and support production with hands‑on problem solving.

Skills

NPI

Prototype to production

DfM/DfA

CAD drawings

Fixture design

Hands-on

Communication

Electromechanical prototypes

SolidWorks

Fast-paced environment

Production readiness

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Job Title: Contract NPI Manufacturing Engineer

Location: Hereford

Rate: £45 to £50 per hour

Employment Type: Contract

Verso are supporting a major engineering programme entering the final stages of development, and we’re looking for a hands‑on NPI Manufacturing Engineer to help transition complex electromechanical prototypes into structured, repeatable production.

This 3‑month contract is ideal for someone who thrives in fast‑moving environments and enjoys practical engineering, jig/fixture design, and early industrialisation work.

This role has been determined to be inside IR35, so candidates will be required to operate through an Umbrella company.

The Role

This is a practical NPI role focused on stabilising prototype builds, improving manufacturability, and creating the tooling, fixtures, and documentation needed for repeatable production. You’ll work directly with design, production, and test teams to mature evolving assemblies, resolve build issues, and define how products should be manufactured on the shop floor.

You’ll be central to turning early prototypes into production‑ready assemblies - ensuring build flow, tooling, and documentation are in place for a smooth transition into low–medium volume manufacture.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead NPI activity to transition electromechanical prototypes into stable, repeatable production.
• Design and develop jigs, fixtures, and simple tooling to support assembly, alignment, and test.
• Work with design engineering to refine product architecture for manufacturability (DfM/DfA).
• Build and validate early assemblies, capturing issues and feeding structured feedback into design.
• Create clear build instructions, process maps, and early production documentation.
• Support goods‑in inspection and define initial inspection criteria for incoming components.
• Run prototype testing and provide concise, actionable feedback to engineering teams.
• Improve assembly flow, reduce build variability, and support production with hands‑on problem solving.

What You’ll Bring

• Background in NPI, prototype‑to‑production transition, or early industrialisation.
• Mechanical or electromechanical manufacturing experience.
• Ability to read and interpret CAD/mechanical drawings; comfortable designing basic fixtures.
• Hands‑on approach to assembly, inspection, and prototype test activity.
• Strong communication skills and confidence working within established engineering and production teams.
• Electromechanical prototypes (PCBs, RF cabling, multi‑part assemblies).
• SolidWorks or similar CAD for jig/fixture design.
• Experience in fast‑paced development environments or maturing product lines.
• Understanding of DfM/DfA principles and early production readiness.

For more information, please contact Cathy Swain