Manufacturing Engineer

Airedale International; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Airedale by Modine in Leeds is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to drive operational excellence through Lean and CI.

You will lead CI projects, map value streams, implement 5S/SMED, and support new CapEx to boost capability.

The role focuses on reducing waste, improving quality, and delivering data-driven dashboards for leadership.

Qualifications

• HNC/HND or Degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering (or related field preferred).
• Experience in high volume manufacturing environment, (automotive industry or similar preferred)
• Demonstrated experience delivering tangible CI improvements.
• Experience in 5S, SMED, TPM, 8 wastes or other Lean methodologies.
• Strong experience in a manufacturing or production engineering role.
• Proficient in process mapping, workflow analysis and factory floor observations.
• Excellent problem‑solving and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Proactive and self‑driven with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to implementing solutions.
• Comfortable managing multiple projects simultaneously in a fast‑paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Strong knowledge and practical application of Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement methodologies, including Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, 5S, SMED, Poka‑Yoke, Root Cause Analysis, and DMAIC.
• Lead and support CI projects that reduce cost, eliminate waste, shorten cycle time, and improve product quality.
• Implement continuous improvement methodologies to build operational capability.
• Drive defect prevention through robust process controls and error-proofing solutions (Poka Yoke).
• Support new product development from concept through to product launch.
• Develop, optimise, and validate manufacturing processes to meet rigorous quality and performance targets.
• Monitor operational performance (OEE, yield, downtime, scrap, OTIF) and present insights to relevant stakeholders.
• Create dashboards, databases, KPIs, and reports to support decision‑making and justification.
• Support issue resolution through structured problem solving and collaboration with cross functional teams.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Continuous improvement

Value stream mapping

5S

SMED

Poka-yoke

DMAIC

OEE monitoring

Data dashboards

Stakeholder engagement

Education

HNC/HND in Mechanical Engineering

Degree in Manufacturing/Industrial Engineering

Job description

At Modine, we are Engineering a Cleaner, Healthier World™. Building on more than 100 years of excellence in thermal management, we provide trusted systems and solutions that improve air quality and conserve natural resources. Our Airedale by Modine brand is a world leader in the design and manufacture of innovative thermal management solutions for data centers, clean rooms, hospitals, universities, and other mission-critical environments.

Never heard of Airedale by Modine? In short, we cool the internet. Ever used an app to book a taxi? Ever had a video meeting? Ever bought something online? Chances are, the digital 1s and 0s you’ve created and sent are being kept cool by Airedale by Modine. We’re one of the key cogs in the global machine that keeps your digital world running smoothly.

Trusted as The Critical Cooling Specialists, Airedale by Modine has decades of experience providing efficient, flexible end-to-end cooling solutions that work smarter, not harder, to deliver more cooling for less power. With manufacturing facilities in Canada, Spain, the UK, and the U.S., we’re scaling up across the world to support an ever-growing demand for our solutions. That’s where you come in….

Position Description

The Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for helping to drive operational excellence and across production processes. This role has a strong focus on continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean and the theory of constraints to optimise manufacturing performance, reduce waste, enhance product quality, and support strategic business objectives. The role also plays a key part in supporting the introduction and implementation of new capital expenditure (CapEx) projects to enhance production capability.

Key Responsibilities

• Strong knowledge and practical application of Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement methodologies, including Kaizen, Value Stream
• Mapping (VSM), 5S, SMED, Poka-Yoke, Root Cause Analysis, and DMAIC.
• Lead and support CI projects that reduce cost, eliminate waste, shorten cycle time, and improve product quality.
• Implement continuous improvement methodologies to build operational capability.
• Drive defect prevention through robust process controls and error-proofing solutions (Poka Yoke).
• Support new product development from concept through to product launch.
• Develop, optimise, and validate manufacturing processes to meet rigorous quality and performance targets.
• Monitor operational performance (OEE, yield, downtime, scrap, OTIF) and present insights to relevant stakeholders.
• Create dashboards, databases, KPIs, and reports to support decision‑making and justification.
• Support issue resolution through structured problem solving and collaboration with cross functional teams.

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Required Education & Qualifications

• HNC / HND or Degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering (or related field preferred).
• Experience in high volume manufacturing environment, (automotive industry or similar preferred)
• Demonstrated experience delivering tangible CI improvements.
• Experience in 5S, SMED, TPM, 8 wastes or other Lean methodologies.
• Strong experience in a manufacturing or production engineering role.
• Proficient in process mapping, workflow analysis and factory floor observations.
• Excellent problem‑solving and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Proactive and self‑driven with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to implementing solutions.
• Comfortable managing multiple projects simultaneously in a fast‑paced environment.