Manufacturing Laboratory Manager

Rolls-Royce; West of England; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Safety-first culture

Career development

Continuous learning

Independent and team working

Job summary

Rolls-Royce in Bristol is seeking an experienced Manufacturing Laboratory Manager to lead the special processes and laboratory capability for Defence UK and internationally. This onsite role focuses on development, industrialisation, deployment, and continuous improvement of special processes and lab operations to meet safety, quality, and delivery requirements.

You will be the Technical Authority for special processes, lead teams, plan loads, and build strong partnerships with suppliers and QA

Qualifications

• Qualified Metallurgist, Chemist, or Engineer (UK BEng or equivalent).
• Proven technical and professional leadership in special process and laboratory environments.
• Experience developing, deploying, and leveraging personal and professional networks.
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead high performing teams and deliver on business and customer requirements.
• Professionally accredited Engineer (UK Chartered Engineer or equivalent) (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Technical Authority for special processes ensuring compliance with health, safety and environmental standards, technical and regulatory requirements.
• Lead the special process and laboratory capability including people development, load/capacity planning, business resilience, technology development and industrialisation.
• Build and maintain relationships with special process and laboratory partners, suppliers and quality assurance organisations.

Skills

Technical leadership

People development

Load planning

Stakeholder management

Education

BEng or equivalent (UK)

Chartered Engineer (preferred)

Job description

Job Description

Manufacturing Laboratory Manager

Bristol

Onsite

Management Level C

Why join Rolls-Royce?

At Rolls-Royce we are proud to be a business that has truly helped to shape the modern world and are committed to always being a force for progress; powering, protecting and connecting people everywhere.

By joining Rolls-Royce, you’ll have the opportunity to work on world-class solutions, supported by a culture that believes individuality is our greatest strength, and all perspectives, experiences and backgrounds help us innovate and enable our high-performance culture.

Rolls-Royce is seeking an experienced engineering professional to lead the special process and laboratory capability for Defence UK and International. In this role you will lead the development, industrialisation, deployment and continuous improvement of special processes and laboratory operations across the business. You will be responsible for the initial and continuing capability and conformity of special processes and lead the resolution of technical issues to meet business and customer requirements for safety, quality, cost, delivery rate and lead time.

What you will be doing:

• Technical Authority for special processes ensuring compliance with health, safety and environmental standards, technical and regulatory requirements.
• Lead the special process and laboratory capability including people development, load/capacity planning, business resilience, technology development and industrialisation.
• Build and maintain relationships with special process and laboratory partners, suppliers and quality assurance organisations.

Position qualifications:

• Qualified Metallurgist, Chemist, or Engineer (UK BEng or equivalent), or deep practical special processes experience.
• Proven technical and professional leadership in special process and laboratory environments.
• Experience developing, deploying, and leveraging personal and professional networks.
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead high performing teams and deliver on business and customer requirements.
• Professionally accredited Engineer (UK Chartered Engineer or equivalent) (preferred).

Regional Benefits:

• Work in a safety-first environment were doing the right thing and keeping it simple are core principles.
• Join a culture that values making a real difference through your work.
• Develop your career as a mid-career professional blending technical expertise with strong personal qualities.
• Thrive in a role that encourages integrity, accountability, resilience, and curiosity.
• Collaborate and build relationships in a team-focused environment while also working independently.
• Take initiative, lead, and make smart decisions with confidence and support.
• Grow through continuous learning, openness to improvement, and exposure to challenging opportunities.

This role will require you to hold a Developed Vetting (DV). To start, you will require a minimum Security Check (SC) clearance without any caveats to that clearance. Rolls-Royce will support the application for Security Clearance if you don’t currently already have this in place.

Please be aware that the priority will be given to employees identified as being at high risk.

The professional level and the salary of the position will be dependent on the skills and experience of the successful candidate.

It is advised that you inform your current manager of your application for this role.

Our vision is to ensure that the excellence and ingenuity that shaped our history continues into our future. Our multi-year transformation programme aims to turn Rolls-Royce into a high-performing, competitive, resilient and growing company. Join us, and it can be your future vision too.

Rolls-Royce are committed to being a respectful, inclusive, and non-discriminatory workplace where individuality is valued, diverse perspectives fuel innovation, and everyone can thrive.

Grade:Management level C

For further information please contact:Lizzie Moore - [e-mail]

Job Category

Manufacturing Engineering

Posting Date

15 Oct 2026; 00:10

Posting End Date

28 Oct 2026