Process Engineer

Ibstock Futures; Wakefield; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Digicare+ provided by Aviva

10% matched pension

3x life insurance

Share Save scheme eligibility

Employee Assistance programme

Discount platform for retailers

Personal development and career growth

Job summary

Ibstock Futures in Wakefield (Nostell factory) seeks a Process and New Product Development Engineer to advance clay and façade products from concept to production.

You will lead dies, rollers, and texture development, collaborating with Sales and Design to align innovations with market demand while driving continuous improvement and safety practices.

Qualifications

• A recognised degree qualification, preferably in mechanical, civil, structural or process engineering.
• Experience of planning and managing complex engineering projects, including CDM regulations.
• Highly developed literacy, numeracy and communication skills.
• Project management experience in a manufacturing environment, Prince2 or equivalent.
• Experience of, and commitment to, working within an environment of continuous improvement.
• NEBOSH Certified.

Responsibilities

• Support the development of new clay and façade products, linking concept to realisation.
• Develop, trial, and refine dies, rollers and decorative processes.
• Lead the creation and growth of specials and bespoke high-value products in collaboration with Sales and Design teams.
• Act as the technical bridge between innovation and delivery, moving concepts to production.
• Identify and implement new technologies, materials and design methods to modernise product development.

Skills

Literacy

Numeracy

Communication skills

CDM regulations familiarity

Continuous improvement mindset

Project management

Education

Engineering degree (mechanical/civil/structural/process)

NEBOSH Certification

Job description

WE ARE 200 years of history and over 2,000 employees strong. WE ARE a business loaded with opportunity and career progression. WE ARE innovators, designers, makers and engineers who manufacture and provide smart, efficient, and effective building products and solutions.

Through our customer relationships, diverse building product range and solutions, we enable the creation of inspirational homes, places and spaces for us all to live and work better. With eight core product categories, underpinned by expert design and technical services, we work with architects, builders, merchants and the wider construction supply chain to build the face of Britain.

We are fully committed to a net zero future and continue to invest in expertise and product development to manufacture more efficiently and sustainably. We pride ourselves on leading for new, innovative and sustainable products and solutions, both for today and for a new era of building.

To support our progress, we are currently recruiting for a Process and New Product Development Engineer to come and join our team at our Nostell factory in Wakefield.

As the Process & NPD Engineer, you will support the development of new clay and façade products for the Ibstock Futures business division, building Ibstock’s capability to deliver higher-value and differentiated architectural solutions, connecting the product offering together from concept to realisation. You will develop, trial, and refine technologies around dies, rollers, and decorative processes to expand the Futures product range and enhance Ibstock’s design and texture offering.

You will drive the creation and growth of specials and bespoke high-value products, collaborating closely with Sales and Design teams to align product innovation with market demand. Acting as the technical bridge between innovation and delivery, taking concepts from idea to production and establishing a route for these capabilities across the wider business. You will identify and support new technologies, materials, and design methods that modernise Ibstock’s product and decorative development, positioning Futures as a leader in architectural innovation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the development of new clay and façade products for the Ibstock Futures business division, building Ibstock’s capability to deliver higher-value and differentiated architectural solutions, connecting the product offering together from concept to realisation.
• Develop, trial, and refine technologies around dies, rollers, and decorative processes to expand the Futures product range and enhance Ibstock’s design and texture offering.
• Drive the creation and growth of specials and bespoke high-value products, collaborating closely with Sales and Design teams to align product innovation with market demand.
• Act as the technical bridge between innovation and delivery, taking concepts from idea to production and establishing a route for these capabilities across the wider business.
• Identify and support new technologies, materials, and design methods that modernise Ibstock’s product and decorative development, positioning Futures as a leader in architectural innovation.
• Develop die technology and NPD processes at Nostell, establishing structured approaches for trialling, validating, and scaling new clay product designs.
• Advance texture roller, rapid-prototyped dies, and texturing technology, introducing new surface finishes, textures, and decorative capabilities applicable at Nostell with potential rollout across other Ibstock sites.
• Generate and deliver NPD prototypes and a testing program working in conjunction with the Technical Manager, Process and Production team and Factory Manager.
• Develop and launch “specials” and high-value product solutions, converting design and customer requirements into manufacturable outcomes.
• Engage directly with Sales Team to support project success, understand emerging trends, and identify product opportunities.
• Collaborate with NPD, Process, and Manufacturing teams to ensure new developments integrate into current production capability.
• Lead and support NPD product trials, ensuring new concepts are tested, assessed, and progressed with clear technical direction.
• Contribution to the identification and implementation of process improvements that enhance plant performance, efficiency and yield.

Essential Qualifications & Experience:

A recognised degree qualification, preferably in mechanical, civil, structural or process engineering

Demonstrable experience of the planning and management of complex engineering projects, including CDM regulations

Highly developed literacy, numeracy and communication skills

Project management experience in a manufacturing environment, Prince2 or equivalent

Experience of, and commitment to, working within an environment of continuous improvement

NEBOSH Certified

Think you can make a difference? WE ARE your future.

• Full time, permanent role
• Digicare+ Provided by Aviva
• 10% matched pension, administered by Legal and General
• 3x life insurance
• Share Save scheme eligibility
• Full access to Employee Assistance programme for self and family members
• Access to high street retail discounts platform - with access to discounts at Tesco, Asda, etc…
• Personal development and career progression opportunities

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion?

Excited about the role, but your past experience or qualifications don’t perfectly match everything in the job description? We would encourage you to still apply. Studies have shown that some people, particularly from minority groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. Here at Ibstock Plc we are dedicated to building belonging, empowering our colleagues to be their true self by offering a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace. You may just be the right candidate for this role, or other future roles across the Ibstock Group.

Ibstock Plc are committed and passionate about building a diverse environment. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. You will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, national origin, disability or age.

Job Information