Process Engineer

W Talent; South Derbyshire; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus

26 days holiday

Company pension with matched up to 7%

Free on-site parking

Workwear

Job summary

W Talent is partnering with a leading Derbyshire manufacturing business to recruit a Process Improvement Engineer in Ripley. You will drive operational excellence, improvements across production, and capital projects, working with cross‑functional teams to cut waste and raise quality.

The role requires five years in process/manufacturing engineering, an engineering HND or equivalent, and strong SPC/Lean capabilities.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years' experience in a Process Engineering or Manufacturing Engineering role.
• HND or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Process Engineering, Chemistry or related discipline.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes within an industrial environment.
• Experience using Root Cause Analysis and structured problem‑solving techniques.
• Practical knowledge of SPC and data analysis.
• Experience implementing Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Strong analytical and IT skills, including Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and data analysis software.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver projects successfully.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to influence and collaborate with stakeholders across all levels of the business.

Responsibilities

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing operations.
• Monitor and improve process performance using data analysis and SPC.
• Lead structured problem-solving activities using RCA, Lean methodologies and DoE.
• Support manufacturing teams with process optimisation and technical problem solving.
• Develop and maintain process documentation and ensure compliance with quality standards.
• Support capital investment projects, including equipment specification, commissioning and process validation.
• Work collaboratively with Production, Engineering, Maintenance and Quality teams to improve operational performance.
• Promote safe working practices and support HSE initiatives.
• Plan and execute manufacturing process trials, analysing results and implementing improvements.
• Identify opportunities to reduce waste, improve quality and increase manufacturing efficiency.

Skills

Root Cause Analysis

Lean Manufacturing

Continuous Improvement

SPC

Data analysis

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

HND in Engineering

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Data analysis software

Job description

Alfreton, Derbyshire | £50,000 + Bonus | Full-Time | Manufacturing & Engineering

W Talent is working exclusively with a leading manufacturing business located in Ripley to recruit a Process Improvement Engineer. This is an exciting opportunity to join a well-established international manufacturer, playing a key role in driving operational excellence, process optimisation and continuous improvement across a complex production environment.

Company Overview

Our client is a globally recognised manufacturer with a strong reputation for innovation, quality and operational excellence. Operating from a modern manufacturing facility in Derbyshire, the business supplies high-quality products to customers worldwide and continues to invest in both its people and manufacturing capabilities. This position offers the opportunity to make a tangible impact by leading process improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, product quality and manufacturing performance.

The Role

As a Process Improvement Engineer, you will be responsible for improving manufacturing processes, reducing variation and supporting continuous improvement across the site. Working closely with Production, Engineering, Maintenance and Quality teams, you will identify opportunities to improve efficiency, solve technical challenges and support the successful delivery of improvement and capital investment projects.

This is a varied role that combines hands-on engineering with data analysis, project management and cross-functional collaboration, making it ideal for someone passionate about driving operational performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing operations
• Monitor and improve process performance using data analysis and Statistical Process Control (SPC)
• Lead structured problem-solving activities using Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Lean methodologies and Design of Experiments (DoE)
• Support manufacturing teams with process optimisation and technical problem solving
• Develop and maintain process documentation and ensure compliance with quality standards
• Support capital investment projects, including equipment specification, commissioning and process validation
• Work collaboratively with Production, Engineering, Maintenance and Quality teams to improve operational performance
• Promote safe working practices and support Health, Safety and Environmental initiatives
• Plan and execute manufacturing process trials, analysing results and implementing improvements
• Identify opportunities to reduce waste, improve quality and increase manufacturing efficiency

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum of five years' experience within a Process Engineering or Manufacturing Engineering role
• HND or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Process Engineering, Chemistry or a related discipline
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes within an industrial environment
• Experience using Root Cause Analysis and structured problem-solving techniques
• Practical knowledge of Statistical Process Control (SPC) and data analysis
• Experience implementing Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement methodologies
• Strong analytical and IT skills, including Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and data analysis software
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver projects successfully
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to influence and collaborate with stakeholders across all levels of the business

Salary & Benefits

This is a full-time, Monday to Friday position based in Alfreton, Derbyshire, offering a salary of £50,000, alongside a performance bonus and an excellent benefits package. Employees benefit from 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays, a company pension with matched contributions of up to 7%, free on-site parking and company workwear. This is an excellent opportunity to join a business that continues to invest in both its people and manufacturing excellence while offering genuine long-term career progression.

This position is being recruited exclusively by Glyn Dobb at W Talent, who will be managing the initial recruitment process and interviews on behalf of our client.