Manufacturing Shift Leader

BAE Systems; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 39,284 - 48,013; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pension scheme

Flexible health and wellbeing benefits

Employee share plans

Job summary

A leading defense and aerospace company in Sunderland is seeking a Manufacturing Shift Leader to oversee people and process performance in a dynamic environment. You will ensure adherence to safety protocols and quality standards while driving efficiency within the manufacturing process. The ideal candidate will have strong engineering experience and a track record of leading cross-functional teams. We offer a competitive salary and various employee benefits, contributing to an inclusive workplace culture.

Qualifications

• Experience in following HR processes including disciplinary and absence management.
• Experience in a targets driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Overall responsibility for process performance in manufacturing processes.
• Ensure safety and adherence to management arrangements.
• Manage the quality standards and non-conforming products.

Skills

Manufacturing or Engineering experience

Supervising a cross-functional team

Continuous improvement activities

Education

HNC level qualification or equivalent in engineering

Job description

Overview

Job Title: Manufacturing Shift Leader

Location: Washington, Tyne & Wear

Salary: £43,649

What You’ll Be Doing

Overall responsibility for people and process performance within the allocated manufacturing processes; that includes discipline, training & development, labour bookings, supervision, time management and attendance. Responsibility for the safety of the employees working within Operations, including Duty Manager responsibilities. Ensuring the adherence to management arrangements for the implementation of the SHE policy, legislation and safe systems of work. Taking responsibility for the process quality across shift; managing adherence to quality standards and managing non-conforming products through the Q3 process. Driving the site Key Business Measures – including MSA, Efficiency, Utilisation & Effectivity. Supporting the development and establishment of efficient manufacturing processes and facilities to meet production programme requirements taking into consideration factors such as safety, logistics, process flow, inventory and lead times. Direct responsibility to lead, develop and motivate staff members within the Manufacturing teams to the business T&C’s.

Essential

• Manufacturing or Engineering experience
• Experience in following HR processes including disciplinary and absence management
• Experience in supervising a cross-functional team, in a targets driven environment
• Success in implementing and sustaining continuous improvement activities utilising lean tools and techniques

Desirable

• Experience in foundry, CNC machining or treatments is advantageous
• HNC level qualification or equivalent (ILM Level 3) in an engineering discipline and qualified in IOSH and/or Environmental Managing Safety (or working towards)

Benefits

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts – you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.

Additional Context

The Engineering Team
This is an exciting opportunity for you to play an integral role on our Washington site, working alongside a close knit, supportive team where teamwork and communication is vital. Working alongside other experienced professionals such as the Manufacturing Manager, Shift Leaders, Production and Maintenance. This is a role you can really make an impact by bringing ideas and improvements into the team, to drive the department forward.

Why BAE Systems?
This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date: 4th February 2026

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.