Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Unipart; Sefton; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days holiday (including bank hols)

Pension

Bonus

Life assurance

Employee assistance programme

Wellbeing support

Flexible benefits including cycle to/“

Workplace cycle to work scheme

Job summary

Unipart is seeking a Manufacturing Engineering Manager for the Southport site. You will lead the Manufacturing Engineering function and Toolroom, define the site roadmap, drive industrialisation of new products, and ensure safe, capable, and efficient processes to support growth.

Reporting to the General Manager, you will develop a team of engineers (6), lead short-batch NPI, analyse process capability (SPC), oversee testing and pre-production trials, and champion continuous improvement using

Qualifications

• We are looking for a Mechanical or Electronics Engineering degree holder with strong leadership experience.
• Proven track record leading a Manufacturing or Production Engineering function, developing talent and capability.
• Experience with NPI, industrialisation projects, and short-batch manufacturing is required or highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Define the site manufacturing engineering roadmap and establish robust process standards.
• Lead a team of 6 engineers and coach performance toward zero-defect culture.
• Drive short-batch NPI, analyse process capability (SPC), and oversee testing and pre-production trials.
• Drive continuous improvement using Unipart Way lean tools and root-cause investigations.
• Collaborate with Design Engineering, Quality, Procurement, customers and suppliers.

Skills

Leadership

People development

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electronics Engineering

Six Sigma Green Belt (desirable)

Tools

SPC

MTM

Optical testing (basic)

Job description

Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Location: Southport

Salary and benefits: Up to £60,000 (depending on experience) plus 33 days holiday (including bank holidays), pension, bonus, life assurance, employee assistance programme, wellbeing support, and flexible benefits including cycle to work scheme.

This is a fully site based role and you should be prepared to commute to the Southport site 5 days per week.

About the Role

Reporting directly to the General Manager, the Manufacturing Engineering Manager is a key member of the Southport Operational Leadership Team. You will lead and develop the Manufacturing Engineering function and Toolroom, driving strategy, industrialising new products, and implementing safe, capable, and efficient processes to support operational excellence and business growth.

As part of your key responsibilities, you'll:

• Engineering Leadership: Define the sites manufacturing engineering roadmap, and establish robust process standards, coaching your team to drive Right First Time performance toward a zero-defect culture.
• People Leadership: Lead, develop, and coach a team of 6 engineers.
• Process & NPI Development: Lead short-batch New Product Introduction, analyse process capability (SPC), and oversee product testing and pre-production trials.
• Operational Excellence: Drive a continuous improvement culture using Unipart Way lean tools, leading structured root cause investigations to eliminate waste and boost productivity.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Provide technical guidance to senior leadership and shop-floor teams, collaborating with Design Engineering, Quality, Procurement, customers, and suppliers.

About You

We are looking for someone with:

• A degree in Mechanical or Electronics Engineering (or equivalent practical experience).
• Proven people leadership experience leading a Manufacturing or Production Engineering function, with a clear focus on developing talent, building capability and driving engagement.
• Demonstrated experience in NPI, industrialisation projects, and short-batch manufacturing.
• Strong background in lean manufacturing, Statistical Process Control (SPC), structured root-cause problem-solving and writing technical reports.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to inspire your team, build strong cross-functional relationships, and influence stakeholders at all levels of the business, including customers and suppliers.
• The following would be highly desirable: Six Sigma qualification (Green Belt level), experience with Process Engineering tools and MTM (Methods-Time Measurement), a basic knowledge of optical testing.

About Unipart

We are a supply chain performance improvement partner. We Design, Make, Move, and Improve components in our customers supply chains, keeping their operations and assets moving and working better, for longer. Through our commitment to continuously driving operational efficiencies, we improve performance - saving time, cost, and carbon. Our ambition is to be the driving force behind efficient, resilient, and sustainable supply chains.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

We believe that a great workplace is one where you can bring your whole self to work. Our recruitment process is designed to be accessible, inclusive, and based entirely on merit. We define merit through a combination of technical skills and the core behaviours that help our people thrive at Unipart. We welcome applications from everyone, regardless of background or circumstances. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity that exceeds our statutory obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and subsequent legislation. Whether its your age, disability, neurodiversity, gender identity, family status, or any other characteristic that makes you you - it is your talent and potential that we value most.

We want you to perform at your best. If you require any reasonable adjustments or have specific accessibility needs at any stage of the application or interview process, please let us know. We are here to support you.

Department

Manufacturing

Contract type

Full time

Hours

37

Salary

Up to £60,000 (depending on experience)

Closing date for applications

4th September, 2026

REF-230301

REF-230301