Manufacturing Engineer

Thales; Templecombe; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace and defense company in Templecombe is seeking an experienced Manufacturing Engineer. This role involves driving design for manufacture, optimizing manufacturing processes, and ensuring robust product delivery. The ideal candidate will have experience in a light mechanical production setting and be eligible for Security Clearance. The position offers a flexible four-day workweek and opportunities for career progression.

Benefits

4 day working week

Pension Scheme

28 days annual leave

Progression and Development Opportunities

Employee Assistance Program

Employee discount shopping schemes

Qualifications

• Experience in low to medium volume mechanical/electro-mechanical production environment.
• Knowledge of manufacturing systems including routings and BOMs.
• Ability to create high standard project documentation.

Responsibilities

• Identify capital purchase opportunities for manufacturing equipment.
• Assess Manufacturing Readiness Level with project teams.
• Define and optimize manufacturing processes and tooling.

Skills

Continuous improvement techniques

Manufacturing systems

Machining and assembly knowledge

Clear communication skills

Security clearance eligibility

Job description

Manufacturing Engineer

Location – Templecombe

4 Day Week (Monday-Thursday)

You’ll play an integral role within the wider Industrial footprint for key products, driving the right behaviours in Design for Manufacture within Engineering and Projects, and being a subject matter expert supporting Procurement ensuring our supply chain delivers robust products.

What the role has to offer:

• An established manufacturing plant with a strong order book
• Career Development
• Working alongside time served engineers

Our Opportunity

You will contribute to the definition, implementation, and maintenance of the Industrial Strategy for existing products and new products (transverse activity extending between upstream/downstream) providing day‑to‑day technical support to the on‑site industrial footprint.

Day to day tasks:

• Identify opportunities for manufacturing equipment capital purchases with financial assessment (Cost‑Benefit Analysis & ROI’s) completed
• Assess Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) of products by reviewing the product maturity with project teams to identify and minimise risk
• Define, set up, prepare and optimise manufacturing processes and tooling for a defined area or product line
• Contribute to Health, Safety and Environment processes
• Define and optimise manufacturing documentation, tools, workflows for manufacturing and inspection based on the information supplied by upstream R&D engineering departments
• Contribute to the technological innovation to reduce costs and workflows, whilst guaranteeing the feasibility and reproducibility of the process
• Attend Material Review Boards and Configuration Control Boards on behalf of manufacturing, actively manage failures and changes
• Implement test & control plans for manufacturing equipment

About You

As an experienced Manufacturing Engineer, your background will include working within a low to medium volume, light mechanical / electro‑mechanical production environment and have knowledge and/or experience of the below.

• Awareness and use of continuous improvement techniques and implementing lean manufacturing
• Experience of manufacturing systems, including routings, BOMs, concessions and change requests
• Broad process knowledge including machining, assembly (both mechanical and electronic) and test
• Clear and concise communication skills, including the ability to produce high standard documentation for project and external use
• Must be eligible to obtain SC level security clearance.

What we can offer

• 4 day working week
• Pension Scheme
• 28 days annual leave (Plus Bank Holidays)
• Progression and Development Opportunities
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailer

Flexibility

Your health and well‑being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to be a UK National and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. If approved by the MOD, a dual national from a Non‑ITAR country may be considered. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance.

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted.

In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier‑free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro‑diverse applicants or those with a disability or long‑term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

Great journeys start here, apply now!