Junior Tool & Die Engineer

Ball Aerospace; Kettering; Hybrid; GBP 18,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Ball Corporation in the United Kingdom seeks an apprentice to support the toolroom and ensure tooling availability for production. You will rework worn tooling and assist with maintenance across process areas using consumable tooling.

The role includes front-line workshop support, conversions, and shutdown tasks under supervision, with a focus on meeting budget and production needs.

Qualifications

• Apprenticeship in a Manufacturing Mechanical Engineering discipline.
• Experience of machining/operating a lathe and CNC Machine.
• Experience of working in a workshop environment and knowledge of machine shop processes and practices.
• Experience of preventative and planned maintenance on workshop and production equipment.
• Ability to assist with breakdowns and line conversions.
• A team player with strong problem solving and analytical skills, with the ability to work alone under their own initiative.

Responsibilities

• Organising materials for the toolroom according to production demand.
• Communicating efficiently with all personnel to ensure effective running.
• Perform repairs on machinery in the toolroom to keep at a high working standard.
• The re-refurbishment, preparation and repair of plant spares & equipment i.e. coater rollers, pumps, gearboxes, conveyors, pinchains, shafts etc.
• Assisting with Plant breakdowns i.e. pin chains, oven shafts, strappers etc.
• Assisting with line conversions and size conversions.
• The safe use of tool room/workshop machinery i.e. lathes, grinders, manual millers etc.
• The re-refurbishment, preparation and repair of the tooling used in the manufacturing process.
• Assisting with the storing, inventory and issuing of tooling used in the manufacturing process.
• Ensuring the housekeeping in the toolroom is to an acceptable level, and that equipment and machinery in the toolroom/workshop is safe and operable.

Skills

Team player

Problem solving

Analytical skills

Initiative

Education

Apprenticeship in Manufacturing Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Lathe

CNC Machine

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

Company: Ball Corporation

Location: Kettering, ENG, GB

Date: 4 Sept 2026

Job Category: Manufacturing/ Operations

At Ball, integrity and trust are the foundation of who we are. Guided by our core values —"We Care. We Work. We Win."— we create a culture where every voice matters and every idea drives progress.
Further your career at Ball, a world leader in manufacturing sustainable aluminium packaging. Achieve extraordinary things when you join our team, and make a difference in your professional development, the community, and around the globe!
Create a new future.

Position overview:

The purpose of the position is to assist the Toolroom engineer in providing sufficient tooling to the plant to ensure the production demands are met, reworking tooling once worn. This is for all process areas that use consumable tooling.

This position also provides support for the workshop engineers on both the front end and back end, this includes conversions, shutdowns and maintenance.

Although the workshop personnel may be asked to assist on the production line, their normal duties are carried out under the instruction of the Maintenance Supervisor with the main aim of servicing the requirements of the manufacturing process and therefore assisting the Plant to meet budget requirements.

Key responsibilities include:

• Organising materials for the toolroom according to production demand.
• Communicating efficiently with all personnel to ensure effective running.
• Perform repairs on machinery in the toolroom to keep at a high working standard.
• The re-refurbishment, preparation and repair of plant spares & equipment i.e. coater rollers, pumps, gearboxes, conveyors, pinchains, shafts etc.
• Assisting with Plant breakdowns i.e. pin chains, oven shafts, strappers etc.
• Assisting with line conversions and size conversions.
• The safe use of tool room/workshop machinery i.e. lathes, grinders, manual millers etc.
• The re-refurbishment, preparation and repair of the tooling used in the manufacturing process.
• Assisting with the storing, inventory and issuing of tooling used in the manufacturing process.
• Ensuring the housekeeping in the toolroom is to an acceptable level, and that equipment and machinery in the toolroom/workshop is safe and operable.
• Use of ancillary equipment such as fork trucks as required providing they are trained and hold a current FLT driving licence.
• To work safely at all times and to immediately report to the supervisor any unsafe acts or conditions.
• Check that all plant and equipment within the Toolroom are maintained in good condition to prevent leakage’s, fires etc.

What are we looking for?

• Apprenticeship in a Manufacturing Mechanical Engineering discipline.
• Experience of machining/operating a lathe and CNC Machine.
• Experience of working in a workshop environment and knowledge of machine shop processes and practices.
• Experience of preventative and planned maintenance on workshop and production equipment.
• The ability to assist with breakdowns and line conversions.
• A team player with strong problem solving and analytical skills, with the ability to work alone under their own initiative.

#LI-IS1
#LI-Onsite

Ball Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We actively encourage applications from everybody, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, faith, ability, or orientation. Our products range from infinitely recyclable aluminium cans, cups to aerosol bottles solutions that enable our customers to contribute to a better world.
Each of us has a deep commitment to diversity and inclusion which is the foundation of our culture of belonging. Everyone at Ball is making a difference by doing what we love. Because what we create may change, but what we will always make is a difference.
Please note the advertised job title might vary from the job title on the contract due to local job title structure and global HR systems.