NPI Production Engineer — SME & Process Optimization

OpenWorks Engineering Ltd; Prudhoe; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus up to 25%

Enhanced pension up to 8% employer-med

25 days holiday plus 5 extra days

Breakfast & Lunch provided

Private healthcare & life insurance

Salary sacrifice options: EV car & Cyc

Team socials & learning budget

Job summary

OpenWorks Engineering Ltd is seeking a Production Engineer to enable the transition of new products into production and sustain high-quality delivery for international customers. The role focuses on late-stage NPI from sample builds to ramp‑up, then evolves into SME ownership for ongoing production and continuous improvement.

You will support production readiness, work with design and quality teams, and develop robust build documentation. Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK.

Qualifications

• Strongly process and quality driven, with a focus on repeatability and robustness.
• Experienced in production environments and hands‑on product builds.
• Comfortable working in fast‑paced, evolving NPI environments at the production readiness stage.
• A proactive problem solver with a structured and analytical approach.
• Highly detail‑oriented with strong organisational skills.
• A confident communicator, able to work effectively with production, quality and design teams.
• Highly computer literate.

Responsibilities

• Support the transition of new products into production, from sample builds through to volume manufacture.
• Lead and support sample builds, pilot builds and early production runs, ensuring issues are captured, tracked and resolved.
• Develop, refine and release production-ready build documentation, processes and test procedures.
• Identify build, test and process issues during NPI and implement practical solutions to ensure production readiness.
• Provide feedback to design teams on manufacturability and ease of assembly (no design ownership).
• Define and implement in-line validation and test activities for new assemblies.
• Ensure products meet quality, repeatability and throughput requirements prior to production release.
• Act as the SME for assigned product lines.
• Provide hands‑on support to production technicians during build, test and fault‑finding activities.
• Identify opportunities to improve production efficiency, yield and quality.
• Investigate production yield, scrap and rework trends and implement corrective actions.
• Solve production issues using structured root‑cause analysis methodologies (5‑Why, A3, 8D).
• Support the creation and maintenance of build instructions, processes and standards of work.
• Design and develop jigs, fixtures and tooling to support build and test activities.
• Support the specification, commissioning and optimisation of production and FAT equipment.
• Drive continuous improvement of manufacturing processes to support stable and efficient production.

Skills

Mechanical knowledge

Electrical knowledge

Problem solving

GD&T understanding

CAD - Autodesk Inventor

Structured troubleshooting

Detail-oriented

Education

Engineering qualification - Level 5+

Tools

Autodesk Inventor

Multimeter

Oscilloscope

Job description

OpenWorks Engineering Ltd is seeking a Production Engineer to enable the transition of new products into production and sustain high-quality delivery for international customers. The role focuses on late-stage NPI from sample builds to ramp‑up, then evolves into SME ownership for ongoing production and continuous improvement.

You will support production readiness, work with design and quality teams, and develop robust build documentation. Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK.