Manufacturing Engineer (Composites)

Safran; Nethercote; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Safran in Banbury, UK is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer (Composites) to advance advanced composite manufacturing processes from concept to production. You will work in a fast-paced R&D Manufacturing Engineering team, collaborating with engineering and manufacturing to optimise processes and solve manufacturing challenges.

The role emphasizes hands-on engineering, continuous improvement, and the introduction of new equipment and methods.

Qualifications

• Experience developing composite manufacturing processes (RTM, filament winding, braiding).
• Experience in regulated aerospace or automotive environments.
• Experience industrialising processes from R&D to production.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimise composite manufacturing processes, document parameters and key data.
• Support industrialisation from R&D to production.
• Design tooling, jigs and fixtures to support development.
• Investigate issues and implement solutions to reduce risk and improve performance.
• Participate in MRL reviews and present progress at milestones.
• Collaborate with R&D and Design to ensure manufacturability.
• Support introduction of new equipment from business case to commissioning and validation.
• Conduct trials, testing and process development in the R&D environment.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives including 5S and process optimisation.
• Promote safe working practices and engineering excellence across manufacturing.

Skills

Composite manufacturing

Aerospace manufacturing experience

Process industrialisation

DOE and process capability

Automation in manufacturing

Design for manufacture

Education

Engineering qualification or apprenticeship

Tools

Siemens NX

Job description

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 the Role:

We're looking for a Manufacturing Engineer (Composites) to join our growing R&D Manufacturing Engineering team in Banbury. This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in developing and industrialising advanced composite manufacturing processes, helping to take innovative products from concept through to production.

Working within a fast-paced research and development environment, you'll collaborate closely with engineering and manufacturing teams to optimise processes, solve complex manufacturing challenges and support the introduction of new technologies and equipment. If you enjoy hand-on engineering, continuous improvement and seeing your ideas become reality, this could be the ideal opportunity for you.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and optimise composite manufacturing processes, documenting process parameters and analysing key manufacturing data.
• Support the industrialisation of new products and manufacturing methods from R&D through to production.
• Design tooling, jigs and fixtures to support process development and manufacturing activities.
• Investigate manufacturing issues and implement effective solutions to reduce risk and improve performance.
• Participate in Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) reviews and present progress to stakeholders at key project milestones.
• Collaborate with R&D and Design Engineering teams to ensure products are designed for manufacture.
• Support the introduction of new equipment, from business case development and factory layout through to commissioning and validation.
• Conduct manufacturing trials, testing and process development activities within the R&D environment.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, including 5S activities and process optimisation projects.
• Promote safe working practices and support the delivery of engineering excellence across the manufacturing function.

What You'll Bring:

Essential:

• Experience developing composite manufacturing processes, including technologies such as Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM), filament winding or braiding.
• Manufacturing engineering experience within an aerospace, automotive or similarly regulated engineering environment.
• Experience supporting the industrialisation, development or introduction of manufacturing processes and solving manufacturing challenges.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of Siemens NX or other 3D CAD packages, including tooling, fixture design and technical drawing creation.
• Understanding of Design of Experiments (DOE), process capability analysis and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience introducing automation into manufacturing processes.
• Knowledge of composite and metallic machining processes, alongside recognised engineering qualifications or apprenticeship training.

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.