Manufacturing Engineering Lead

Precision People UK; Coventry; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Precision People UK in the United Kingdom is seeking a Manufacturing Engineering Lead to own the complete manufacturing solution from quotation to production ramp-up.

You will specify CNC machines, define sequences, lead NPI, and drive five-axis machining projects, collaborating across engineering, shop floor and suppliers. This role also offers a four-day core week from Monday to Thursday.

Qualifications

• Strong CNC machining knowledge on castings.
• Modern CAD/CAM, complex programming or model-based manufacturing experience.
• A practical understanding of cutting tools, fixtures, workholding, datum structures, gauging and dimensional control.
• Experience developing machining processes from drawings or 3D models.
• The confidence to support process prove-out and problem-solving at the machine.

Responsibilities

• Lead manufacturing engineering projects from quotation through to stable production.
• Review customer drawings, 3D models and production volumes to develop competitive manufacturing solutions.
• Specify CNC machine tools and complete manufacturing cells with leading suppliers.
• Define machining sequences, tools, fixtures, workholding, gauging and automation requirements.
• Produce cycle-time estimates, tooling and capital requirements, process assumptions and technical input for quotations.
• Use CAD/CAM, simulation and model-based manufacturing to support programming and prove-out.
• Lead new product introductions through trials, first-off manufacture, capability evidence and ramp-up.
• Resolve machining, tooling, fixture and dimensional problems on the shop floor.
• Coordinate customers, suppliers, production, quality and engineering colleagues on projects.
• Provide visible technical leadership and develop the wider engineering capability of the group.

Skills

CNCmachining castings

CAD/CAM

Tooling, fixtures, datum structures

Process development from drawings/3D

Troubleshooting on machine

Costing, quality, risk awareness

Technical leadership discussions

Job description

Monday to Thursday, 7.30 am–5.30 pm, with overtime when required

Are you a manufacturing engineer who wants ownership of the complete engineering solution - not simply responsibility for programming an existing machine?

This is an opportunity to become the lead engineering figure within an established precision engineering group, taking technically demanding machining projects from initial quotation through to stable production.

You will work on complex cast components for power generation and off-highway applications, helping to determine how each part should be manufactured, what machinery and tooling are required, how the process should be costed and how it will be successfully introduced on the shop floor.

The role

As Manufacturing Engineering Lead, you will:

• Review customer drawings, 3D models and production volumes to develop competitive manufacturing solutions.
• Specify CNC machine tools and complete manufacturing cells, working with leading machine-tool manufacturers and suppliers.
• Define machining sequences, cutting tools, fixtures, workholding, gauging, probing and automation requirements.
• Produce cycle-time estimates, tooling and capital requirements, process assumptions and technical input for quotations.
• Use CAD/CAM, simulation and model-based manufacturing techniques to support complex programming and process prove-out.
• Lead new product introductions through trials, first-off manufacture, capability evidence, customer approval and controlled production ramp-up.
• Resolve machining, tooling, fixture and dimensional problems directly on the shop floor.
• Coordinate customers, suppliers, production, quality and engineering colleagues through demanding technical projects.
• Provide visible technical leadership and help develop the wider engineering capability of the group.

The engineering environment

The businesses manufacture medium- to high-complexity cast components, including gearcases, flywheel housings and parts containing critical bearing features.

You will encounter tolerances down to approximately 10 microns, complex workholding and datum challenges, five-axis machining, twin-spindle driven-tool turning and significant capital-investment projects involving multiple machines, tooling and automation.

About you

You may already be operating as a senior manufacturing, process or applications engineer, with experience of owning projects beyond simply programming a component onto an available machine.

You should offer:

• Strong CNC machining knowledge on castings
• Modern CAD/CAM, complex programming or model-based manufacturing experience.
• A practical understanding of cutting tools, fixtures, workholding, datum structures, gauging and dimensional control.
• Experience developing machining processes from drawings or 3D models.
• The confidence to support process prove-out and problem-solving at the machine.
• Commercial awareness and an understanding of how quality, cycle time, capital cost and production risk affect a manufacturing solution.
• The ability to lead technical discussions with operators, suppliers, customers and senior colleagues.

Experience of machining cast components, specifying CNC machinery, estimating, quotation support, high-volume NPI, five-axis machining or twin-spindle driven-tool equipment would be particularly valuable.

We are also interested in hearing from exceptional engineers who possess strong CAD/CAM and metal-cutting foundations but have not yet been responsible for every aspect of machine specification, estimating or casting NPI.

If you are adaptable, technically curious and ready to develop under an experienced Group Technical Director, this could provide the opportunity to step into a genuine lead engineering position.

The successful person will initially lead critical manufacturing processes and projects rather than immediately managing a large department. As your capability and delivery are demonstrated, there is a clear route into broader responsibility for engineering strategy, people, capital investment, estimating and technical leadership across the group.

Why apply?

This is a rare opportunity to:

• Influence major engineering and capital-investment decisions.
• Own projects from initial concept through to production.
• Work with challenging components and advanced machining technology.
• Remain closely involved with practical shop-floor engineering.
• Develop into the senior engineering leader within a growing group.
• Work a four-day core week from Monday to Thursday.

If you want the freedom to engineer the complete manufacturing solution and the opportunity to shape the future technical capability of a business, we would like to hear from you.