Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Planet Recruitment; East Hagbourne; On-site; GBP 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Planet Recruitment is seeking a Manufacturing Engineering Manager in Didcot, Oxfordshire, to lead the Manufacturing Engineering function within the Operations department, coordinating internal teams and external suppliers to ensure manufacturing readiness and high-quality products.

The role focuses on strategy, capital projects, automation, Industry 4.0, DFM/DFA, TPM, and continuous improvement, with a senior level and strong leadership, ERP/MES/CAD systems experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Manufacturing Engineering or equivalent.
• 7+ years in manufacturing engineering with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Proven experience leading Manufacturing Engineering, NPI Industrialisation, and Continuous Improvement activities.
• Strong project and programme management skills.
• Expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Experience delivering automation and digital manufacturing initiatives.
• Experience managing TPM and production equipment maintenance strategies.
• Experience working within ISO9001 or equivalent quality management systems.
• Strong understanding of DFM, DFA, process validation, and product industrialisation.
• Proficiency in ERP, MES, CAD, Minitab, Power BI, or similar manufacturing systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Manufacturing Engineering function, ensuring effective deployment of resources to support Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Growth objectives.
• Develop and execute the Manufacturing Engineering strategy and roadmap aligned to operational and business objectives.
• Own the industrialisation process for new products, ensuring manufacturing readiness, tooling, fixtures, test capability, documentation, and capacity requirements are established prior to launch.
• Act as the site technical authority for manufacturing processes, production equipment, and industrialisation activities.
• Oversee the design, development, and implementation of manufacturing processes, procedures, systems, and equipment.
• Identify, evaluate, and implement automation, digitisation, and Industry 4.0 solutions.
• Lead programme management of NPI, CAPEX, automation, and continuous improvement projects.
• Support Design for Manufacture (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) activities.
• Drive manufacturing cost reduction, waste elimination, and productivity improvement initiatives.
• Assess manufacturing capacity and resource requirements to support future growth.
• Own the TPM programme and maintenance strategy for shopfloor production equipment and manufacturing assets.
• Ensure preventative maintenance plans, spares strategies, uptime targets, and equipment reliability metrics are effective.
• Ensure production test equipment, fixtures, and methods are developed, maintained, and continuously improved to support product quality and throughput.
• Define and maintain manufacturing engineering standards, methods, and best practices.
• Facilitate root cause investigations and structured problem solving using methodologies such as 8D, DMAIC, and CAPA.
• Lead and facilitate the site Continuous Improvement programme including training, coaching, and project delivery.
• Manage CAPEX budgets and departmental expenditure, including preparation of business cases.
• Develop and review KPIs, ensuring appropriate countermeasures are implemented.
• Utilise manufacturing data and analytics to identify opportunities and drive sustainable improvements.
• Ensure compliance with applicable quality systems, regulatory standards, and health & safety requirements.
• Develop departmental capability through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and performance management.
• Work closely with Production, Quality, Supply Chain, Product Management, and R&D teams.

Skills

Leadership

Project Management

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Automation

Industry 4.0

NPI Industrialisation

Continuous Improvement

CAPEX management

TPM

ERP

MES

CAD

Minitab

Power BI

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

ERP

MES

CAD

Minitab

Power BI

Job description

Position: Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Location: Didcot, Oxfordshire

Salary: £65,000 per annum plus exceptional benefits

Our client is a leading organisation in the safety, health, and environmental technology sector, dedicated to developing innovative solutions that ensure a safer, cleaner, and healthier future for everyone.

The Role:

As a Manufacturing Engineering Manager, you will work within the Operations department dealing with internal teams and external suppliers to ensure the seamless execution of manufacturing processes and the delivery of high-quality products.

Main Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the Manufacturing Engineering function, ensuring effective deployment of resources to support Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Growth objectives.
• Develop and execute the Manufacturing Engineering strategy and roadmap aligned to operational and business objectives.
• Own the industrialisation process for new products, ensuring manufacturing readiness, tooling, fixtures, test capability, documentation, and capacity requirements are established prior to launch.
• Act as the site technical authority for manufacturing processes, production equipment, and industrialisation activities.
• Oversee the design, development, and implementation of manufacturing processes, procedures, systems, and equipment.
• Identify, evaluate, and implement automation, digitisation, and Industry 4.0 solutions.
• Lead programme management of NPI, CAPEX, automation, and continuous improvement projects.
• Support Design for Manufacture (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) activities.
• Drive manufacturing cost reduction, waste elimination, and productivity improvement initiatives.
• Assess manufacturing capacity and resource requirements to support future growth.
• Own the TPM programme and maintenance strategy for shopfloor production equipment and manufacturing assets.
• Ensure preventative maintenance plans, spares strategies, uptime targets, and equipment reliability metrics are effective.
• Ensure production test equipment, fixtures, and methods are developed, maintained, and continuously improved to support product quality and throughput.
• Define and maintain manufacturing engineering standards, methods, and best practices.
• Facilitate root cause investigations and structured problem solving using methodologies such as 8D, DMAIC, and CAPA.
• Lead and facilitate the site Continuous Improvement programme including training, coaching, and project delivery.
• Manage CAPEX budgets and departmental expenditure, including preparation of business cases.
• Develop and review KPIs, ensuring appropriate countermeasures are implemented.
• Utilise manufacturing data and analytics to identify opportunities and drive sustainable improvements.
• Ensure compliance with applicable quality systems, regulatory standards, and health & safety requirements.
• Develop departmental capability through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and performance management.
• Work closely with Production, Quality, Supply Chain, Product Management, and R&D teams.

About You:

Applicants should have strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills, and experience working with manufacturing engineering, NPI industrialisation, and continuous improvement activities. You will need to be proficient in ERP, MES, CAD, Minitab, Power BI, or similar manufacturing systems and demonstrate a commitment to operational excellence and sustainable business performance.

Required:

• Bachelor's Degree in Manufacturing Engineering or equivalent.
• 7+ years experience in manufacturing engineering with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Proven experience leading Manufacturing Engineering, NPI Industrialisation, and Continuous Improvement activities.
• Strong project and programme management skills.
• Expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Experience delivering automation and digital manufacturing initiatives.
• Experience managing TPM and production equipment maintenance strategies.
• Experience working within ISO9001 or equivalent quality management systems.
• Strong understanding of DFM, DFA, process validation, and product industrialisation.
• Proficiency in ERP, MES, CAD, Minitab, Power BI, or similar manufacturing systems.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing CAPEX and departmental budgets.
• Formal project management qualification (PRINCE2, PMP, or equivalent) desirable.

Commutable Locations:

Oxford, Abingdon, Didcot, Reading, Swindon, Newbury, Bicester, Banbury, Aylesbury.

Key Words:

Manufacturing Engineering, NPI, Continuous Improvement, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Automation, Industry 4.0, TPM, CAPEX, DFM, DFA, ERP, MES, CAD, Minitab, Power BI, Project Management.

Please note that no terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate on the grounds of a person's gender, marital status, race, religion, colour, age, disability or sexual orientation. Every candidate will be assessed only in accordance with their merits, qualifications and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

Planet Recruitment is an Equal Opportunities Employer.