Manufacturing Engineer - Assembly and Test

Safran; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Company pension (up to 10%)

Private medical insurance

Health cash plan

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

Flexible benefits

Structured training & progression

Job summary

Safran Actuation Systems UK in Wolverhampton is seeking a Production Support Manufacturing Engineer to ensure safe, efficient production and drive improvements across existing products and processes.

You will apply manufacturing expertise, lead process development, validate new products, and collaborate cross‑functionally to improve manufacturability and yield while supporting cost targets and quality standards.

Qualifications

• Degree or apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering or Manufacturing Engineering.
• 3+ years experience in a manufacturing engineering role within an aerospace environment.
• Experience in assembly and test environments.
• Strong communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Lean, Six Sigma and SPC knowledge.
• Familiarity with MES and ERP systems (e.g., SAP).
• DOE/PPAP knowledge.
• Teamwork and collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Ensure production runs safely and efficiently, meeting cost and quality targets.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to optimise processes.
• Lead manufacturing readiness, process development and validation for new products.
• Create work instructions, process documentation and production standards.
• Mentor and support junior engineers and technicians.
• Lead cross-functional projects and technical reviews.
• Support customer visits and raise design change requests to improve manufacturability.
• Analyse manufacturing data (OEE, yield, scrap) to drive performance.

Skills

Manufacturing engineering

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma

SPC

MES/ERP

DOE/PPAP

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Degree in Mechanical or Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

CATIA

MATLAB

Minitab

SAP

Job description

Safran is an international high‑technology group operating in the fields of aerospace (propulsion, equipment and interiors), space and defense. Its mission is to contribute sustainably to a safer world, where air transport becomes ever more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Present on every continent, the Group employs 110,000 people and generated €31.3 billion in revenue in 2025. Safran holds, either independently or through partnerships, leading global or European positions in its markets.

Safran was ranked second in the Aerospace & Defense sector in TIME magazine's "World's Best Companies 2025" ranking.

Safran Electronics & Defense is an international company with more than 19,000 employees who bring together expertise and team spirit to design high‑technology solutions for the aerospace, defense and space sectors. By combining human and technological intelligence, the company develops products and services for both civil and military customers, operating on land, at sea, in the air and in space.

Manufacturing Engineer - Assembly and Tests

Wolverhampton

Safran - Here, we craft excellence together.

At Safran, excellence is a journey and we'd love you to be a part of it. As a trusted global leader in aerospace, defence, and space, we are proud to be a company where diversity, innovation, and opportunity come together to shape a sustainable future where we can all succeed together through a shared vision.

About Safran Actuation Systems UK

Safran Actuation Systems UK is a world class centre for the design, manufacture and support of cutting‑edge actuation and flight control solutions used across commercial, military and rotary platforms. With major sites in Wolverhampton and Banbury, our teams play a critical role in delivering innovative, reliable and safe systems that keep aircraft performing at their best.

Your Role

As a Production Support Manufacturing Engineer, you will be responsible for ensuring that current production runs safely, efficiently, and in line with defined cost and quality targets. You will apply your manufacturing expertise to implement controlled improvements to existing processes, ensuring products are produced in the safest and most cost‑effective manner. This includes driving continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality enhancement, waste reduction, and cost optimisation. The role also involves managing process changes resulting from product design updates, providing technical support to operations, and leading structured problem‑solving activities. You will support customer visits and collaborate cross‑functionally, including raising and justifying design change requests to improve manufacturability.

Overall, you will be accountable for maintaining production stability, maximising uptime and yield, and delivering ongoing improvements across existing portfolio of products and processes.

Process Development & Industrialisation

• Design, develop and optimise manufacturing processes and production layouts.
• Lead process validation, industrialisation and continuous improvement activities.
• Apply APQP, Lean and structured problem‑solving methodologies.

New Product Introduction

• Support DFM/DFA activities with Design Engineering.
• Lead manufacturing readiness, process development and validation for new products.
• Create work instructions, process documentation and production standards.

Equipment & Tooling

• Specify, install, commission and validate equipment, tooling and fixtures.
• Support FAT/SAT activities and production readiness.

Continuous Improvement & Quality

• Drive Lean, Six Sigma, SPC and root cause analysis activities.
• Support CAPA, non‑conformance investigations and process compliance.
• Deliver improvements in productivity, quality, cost and delivery.

Data Analysis & Reporting

• Analyse manufacturing data (OEE, yield, scrap, rework) using MES and ERP systems to drive performance improvement.
• Produce technical reports and business cases to support operational and investment decisions.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Mentor and support junior engineers and technicians.
• Lead cross‑functionally projects and technical reviews.

But what else? (benefits, specificities, etc.)

• Competitive salary
• Company performance bonus scheme
• Pension scheme - up to 10% employer contribution
• Private medical insurance
• Comprehensive health cash plan
• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays
• Flexible benefits programme (buy & sell holiday allowance, discounted gym memberships, Maternity/ adoption leave- up to 52 weeks, first 26 weeks at full pay, subsequent 26 at 50% (basic pay) and Paternity/Non‑Pregnant Parent/ Co‑adopter leave 4 weeks full pay)
• Structured training & opportunities to progress

We know that some candidates may be put off applying for jobs where they don't meet 100% of the criteria outlined in the advert. We encourage anybody to apply if you can demonstrate a variety of skills and experience relevant to the requirements of this role. Please let us know if you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to the hiring process that may better facilitate your participation.

We celebrate our differences and believe they make us stronger. We know that a fulfilling work environment is a key driver for innovative ideas and team success.

Get involved:

We also have a number of groups and forums across our sites that you can get involved with, including Women at Safran, Diversity at Safran, Sports Clubs, STEM ambassadors, Employee Forum, Charity Partnerships and Wellbeing Programs.

Why Safran?

• A global presence: Be part of a global aerospace, defence & space business with over 100,000 Colleagues, across 300 sites in 30 countries.
• Inclusive & empowering environment: We celebrate our differences and believe they make us stronger. We know that a fulfilling work environment is a key driver for innovative ideas and team success.
• Innovation at the core: Join our mission to decarbonise aerospace and make the world a safer place. Your ambitions can take us further.
• Mobility & training opportunities: We can support your ambitions with training, development, a personalised career plan and mobility opportunities. If you have big dreams, we'll support you to make them a reality.
• A culture of excellence: Join a team that values collaboration, integrity, and continuous improvement. Whatever your background, together we aim for excellence.

Essential :

• Degree or apprentice trained in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field
• Proven experience in a manufacturing engineering role within an assembly and test environment.
• 3+ years experience in an aerospace (or equivalent automotive) environment
• Effective communication across technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes: CNC machining, welding, assembly, etc.
• Advanced knowledge of lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and statistical process control (SPC).
• Familiarity with MES, ERP systems (e.g., SAP) and manufacturing analytics platforms.
• Knowledge of process validation: DOE, PPAP, PFMEA.
• Effective communication and teamwork abilities.

Desirable :

• Problem solving under pressure
• Cross‑functional coordination
• Proficiency in engineering software: AutoCAD, SolidWorks, CATIA, MATLAB, Minitab, NX.