Hands-On Manufacturing Engineer – Defense Vehicle Production

NP Aerospace, Ltd.; Coventry; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Flexible working hours

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Pension scheme

Life cover

Health & wellbeing plan

Career development opportunities

Collaborative team culture

Job summary

NP Aerospace, site in Coventry, is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to bridge design and shop floor activity for military vehicle systems. You will lead readiness for new products, design and balance manufacturing processes, and train operators to ensure quality, cost and schedule targets are met.

You will work with Engineering, Operations and Programme teams to translate CAD drawings into practical production steps, implement Lean improvements, and optimise tooling and processes to reduce waste

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Manufacturing Engineer across diverse operating environments.
• Experience with vehicles and fabrication.
• Strong Lean manufacturing knowledge and methodologies.
• Hands-on problem solving using 5 Whys, Ishikawa, and 8D.
• Ability to interrogate CAD models and engineering drawings.
• Experience with PFMEA and process development.
• Experience with CNC and press programming.
• Experience implementing Poka‑Yoke solutions.
• Able to work with production teams to improve processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead manufacturing readiness activities for new vehicle products.
• Design processes, balance work, create manufacturing instructions and train operators.
• Support prototyping and initial production runs; ensure manufacturability.
• Improve existing manufacturing processes using Lean techniques (5S, single-piece flow).
• Maintain BOMs, monitor KPIs, and support operators with training and improvements.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Operations and Programme teams to bridge design and manufacturing.

Skills

Manufacturing Engineering

Lean manufacturing

Problem-solving

CAD models & drawings

PFMEA

CNC programming

Press programming

Cross-functional collaboration

Quality & process improvement

Military vehicle experience

Education

Engineering degree or HNC

Tools

CNC

CAD software

Job description

NP Aerospace, site in Coventry, is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to bridge design and shop floor activity for military vehicle systems. You will lead readiness for new products, design and balance manufacturing processes, and train operators to ensure quality, cost and schedule targets are met.

You will work with Engineering, Operations and Programme teams to translate CAD drawings into practical production steps, implement Lean improvements, and optimise tooling and processes to reduce waste