Manufacturing Engineering Manager - Development

Edwards Vacuum; Eastbourne; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Culture of Trust and Accountability

Lifelong Learning and Career Growth

Innovation Powered by People

Job summary

Edwards Vacuum seeks a Manufacturing Engineering Manager - Development to lead a skilled ME team within the Product Development group. You will drive DFx (DFM, DFA, DFT, DFS) and cost-focused design, ensuring manufacturability from concept through industrialisation and alignment with global production strategies.

You will establish PFMEA/DFMEA standards, guide reviews, manage prototypes and pilots, and mentor engineers while upholding safety, quality, and ISO requirements for right-first-time

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Manufacturing, Electrical, Electronics, or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent professional experience.
• Extensive hands-on experience in Manufacturing Engineering within product development or NPI environments.
• Demonstrable expertise in DFx methodologies including DFM, DFA, DFT, DFS and cost-efficient design principles.
• Comprehensive knowledge of PFMEA/DFMEA embedded within NPI frameworks.
• Strong understanding of electronics manufacturing processes (SMT, through-hole, testing, final assembly).
• Proven ability to influence design and engineering teams and senior stakeholders.
• Exceptional people leadership, communication, and team development skills.
• Familiarity with MRP/ERP systems (preferably SAP) and standard PM tools.
• Fluency in spoken and written English.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a Manufacturing Engineering team, fostering a culture of inclusivity and technical excellence.
• Champion DFx strategies across DFM, DFA, DFT, DFS and cost-based design to embed manufacturability.
• Establish and enforce PFMEA/DFMEA standards and guide manufacturing considerations in concept reviews and detailed design.
• Oversee prototype and pilot builds, verify processes and validations before volume production.
• Contribute to product roadmaps and technology strategies by highlighting capability gaps and risks.
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality, regulatory and ISO standards.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder influence

Communication

People development

DFx methodologies

English fluency

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Engineering

Tools

SAP

Job description

Your role

As the Manufacturing Engineering Manager - Development, you will play a pivotal role within the Product Development organisation by spearheading the advancement of manufacturing engineering capabilities. Your primary mission is to ensure that our new products are optimized for manufacture, assembly, testing, quality, cost efficiency, and ongoing serviceability from the earliest stages of concept through to full industrialisation. Reporting directly to the Engineering Manager, you will be entrusted with leading a highly skilled Manufacturing Engineering (ME) team, cultivating a culture that values inclusivity, continuous improvement, and technical excellence.

Your leadership responsibilities include mentoring, coaching, and developing your team through clear communication, constructive feedback, and fostering a supportive environment that encourages professional growth and collaboration. You will champion design for excellence (DFx) strategies across various dimensions including Design for Manufacture (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), Design for Test (DFT), Design for Service (DFS), and cost-based design to embed robust manufacturability and scalability into our product suites.

You will establish and enforce rigorous standards for Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA) and Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA), ensuring early identification and mitigation of risks. Your expertise will guide manufacturing considerations during concept selection, architecture definition, and throughout detailed design reviews, embedding manufacturing requirements from the outset. Additionally, you will define and maintain standardized New Product Introduction (NPI) deliverables, encompassing manufacturability assessments, process assumptions, build standards, routings, and industrialisation readiness criteria.

In this role, you will ensure active and effective participation of your team in technical reviews, manufacturing reviews, and the production control processes to help deliver right-first-time product launches. As the technical authority, you will provide deep knowledge of electronics and electromechanical manufacturing processes, including printed circuit assembly (PCA), box build, testing, and system integration, ensuring design compatibility with current and emerging manufacturing technologies aligned with global production strategies.

You will also oversee prototype and pilot builds, ensuring that processes, controls, and assumptions are validated effectively before scaling to volume production. Your insights will influence product roadmaps and technology strategies by highlighting capability gaps, risks, and investment needs within the manufacturing engineering domain. Upholding the highest standards of safety, quality, and process discipline, you will ensure all manufacturing engineering activities adhere to statutory requirements, risk control elements, and ISO standards, embedding these principles into engineering decision-making to meet customer, regulatory, and internal quality expectations from concept through to start of production.

To succeed, you will need

We welcome applications from diverse backgrounds and experiences. To thrive in this role, you will ideally possess the following:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Manufacturing, Electrical, Electronics, or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent professional experience.
• Extensive hands-on experience in Manufacturing Engineering within product development or new product introduction environments.
• Demonstrable expertise in DFx methodologies including design for manufacture, assembly, test, and cost-efficient design principles.
• Comprehensive knowledge and practical application of PFMEA and DFMEA embedded within structured NPI frameworks.
• Strong understanding of electronics manufacturing processes such as surface mount technology (SMT), through-hole assembly, product testing, and final product assembly.
• Proven ability to influence design and engineering teams, including senior stakeholders, in a collaborative and persuasive manner.
• Exceptional people leadership skills, including coaching, communication, and team development capabilities.
• Familiarity with MRP/ERP systems, preferably SAP, as well as standard engineering and project management tools.
• Fluency in both spoken and written English to effectively communicate across multidisciplinary teams and global stakeholders.

Desirable qualifications include Chartered Engineer (CEng) status, experience with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and digital manufacturing technologies, Lean Six Sigma certification, and experience working in global or multi-site manufacturing environments.

In return, we offer

• Culture of Trust and Accountability: Join a company where transparency, ownership, and mutual respect form the foundation of our workplace environment, empowering you to deliver your best work.
• Lifelong Learning and Career Growth: Benefit from continuous professional development opportunities, including training programs, mentoring, and clear career advancement pathways tailored to your ambitions.
• Innovation Powered by People: Be part of a forward-thinking organisation that encourages innovation and embraces new ideas, driving cutting-edge solutions in manufacturing engineering.
• Comprehensive Compensation and Benefits: Receive a competitive salary package complemented by a wide range of benefits designed to support your financial security and work-life balance.
• Health and Well-being Support: Access health programs, wellness initiatives, and resources dedicated to promoting your physical and mental well-being.
• Dynamic Work Environment: Experience a collaborative and engaging workplace where cross-functional teamwork and respect for diverse perspectives are paramount.
• Global Impact: Contribute to products and technologies that serve customers worldwide, enhancing your professional influence and sense of purpose.

Job location

This position is based on-site at our office located in Eastbourne, United Kingdom. Being in a dynamic and collaborative office environment, you will benefit greatly from direct interaction with your colleagues and cross-functional teams, ensuring effective communication and immediate problem-solving capabilities.

Contact information

For further recruitment updates or questions, please reach out to our Talent Acquisition Team: Recruiter: Joanna Fifield

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