Machine Shop Manager

Red Chilli Recruitment; Southampton; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Red Chilli Recruitment seeks an experienced Machine Shop Manager in Southampton to lead a busy machining function within a highly technical environment. You will manage a team, oversee CNC and manual machining, and ensure on-time delivery of high-quality work while coordinating with engineering and production teams.

The role emphasizes hands-on leadership, production planning, and effective procurement to sustain capacity and performance.

Qualifications

• Key requirement: strong practical experience in a machine shop with team leadership.
• Ideally: knowledge of CNC machining, procurement and external manufacturing.
• Experience to ensure shop operates efficiently, meets production/project requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead the machine shop team.
• Oversee day-to-day machining activities and workflow.
• Ensure work meets quality, specs and deadlines.
• Manage CNC and manual machining activities.
• Support production and capacity planning and resource allocation.
• Procure materials, tooling and shop needs.
• Outsource metallic work where required.
• Coordinate with external suppliers on quality, cost and delivery.
• Monitor stock and material requirements.
• Collaborate with engineering and production teams.
• Support quality control and inspection needs.
• Identify efficiency improvements and manufacturing capability gains.
• Provide technical input into machining projects.
• Support project planning and delivery.
• Develop and support the machine shop team.

Skills

Machine shop experience

Team leadership

CNC machining

Procurement

Outsourcing

Project management

Production planning

Communication

Tools

CNC machines

Inspection tools

Job description

Machine Shop Manager

Location: Southampton, Hampshire

Salary: £65,000 per annum

Hours: 40 hours per week

Working hours: Monday - Thursday, 7:00am - 4:00pm | Friday, 7:00am - 1:00pm

Reporting to: Workshop Manager

Working arrangement: On-site

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Machine Shop Manager to lead and oversee a busy machining function within a highly technical engineering and manufacturing environment.

This is a key leadership position for someone with strong machine shop experience, proven team management skills and a good understanding of CNC machining, procurement and external manufacturing.

The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring the machine shop operates efficiently, delivers high-quality work and meets production and project requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and lead the machine shop team.


• Oversee day-to-day machining activities and workflow.


• Ensure work is completed to the required quality, specification and deadlines.


• Manage CNC and manual machining activities.


• Support production planning, capacity planning and resource allocation.


• Manage the procurement of materials, tooling and machine shop requirements.


• Identify and manage the outsourcing of metallic work that cannot be completed in-house.


• Liaise with external suppliers to ensure quality, cost and delivery requirements are met.


• Monitor stock and material requirements.


• Work closely with engineering and production teams.


• Support quality control and inspection requirements.


• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and manufacturing capability.


• Provide technical input into machining and manufacturing projects.


• Support project planning and delivery.


• Develop and support the machine shop team.

What We're Looking For

The key requirement is strong practical experience working within a machine shop, combined with experience managing or leading a team.

Ideally, you will have:

• Proven experience managing or supervising a machine shop.


• Strong knowledge of machining and manufacturing processes.


• Experience with CNC machining.


• Experience working with precision components and tight tolerances.


• Experience managing procurement and suppliers.


• Experience outsourcing machining or metallic work.


• Strong project management skills.


• Experience with production planning and resource management.


• A practical, hands‑on approach to leadership and problem‑solving.


• Strong communication and organisational skills.


• The ability to work effectively across engineering, production and supply chain functions.

Desirable Experience

Experience within a high-performance or technically demanding environment, such as the following, would be advantageous:

• Motorsport


• Aerospace


• Marine


• Automotive


• Advanced engineering


• Precision manufacturing

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for someone who combines technical machining knowledge with strong leadership and project management ability.

A background that includes the following would be particularly relevant:

• Machine Shop Management


• CNC


• Team Leadership


• Procurement


• Outsourcing


• Project Management

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced machine shop professional to take ownership of a technically challenging and important manufacturing function.

Role Summary

Salary: £65,000 per annum

Hours: 40 hours per week

Working hours: Monday - Thursday, 7:00am - 4:00pm; Friday, 7:00am - 1:00pm

Location: Southampton, Hampshire

Working arrangement: On-site