Product Specialist – Manufacturing Engineering (Backhoe)

JCB; Rocester; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite gym

In-house doctor

In-house dentist

ULEV car scheme

JCB Rewards Hub

Cycle to Work Scheme

33 days' holiday

Company pension

Job summary

JCB is seeking a Product Specialist within Manufacturing Engineering (Backhoe) to support production operations at the World Headquarters. You will assist with current production, introduce new products and processes, develop SOPs, run time studies, and drive improvement initiatives across manufacturing activities.

The role emphasizes hands-on participation in production support, NPI implementation, process validation, kitting, and cross‑department collaboration.

Qualifications

• Level 4 Manufacturing Engineering Apprenticeship or equivalent qualification.
• Strong attention to detail and a passion for improving processes.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings.
• Proactive, problem-solving mindset.
• Thrive in teamwork and cross-department collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily support to production operations and resolve manufacturing issues.
• Resolve PCMs and support technical issue resolution.
• Support current product and new product introductions (NPI) into production.
• Fully support new product introductions from implementation through to production.
• Introduce new parts and processes within the assembly environment.
• Support new project builds, including kitting, assembly, process validation, implementation and production training.
• Create new manufacturing processes and write SOPs.
• Conduct time studies to support process development and improvement activities.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across existing manufacturing processes.
• Manage personal improvement projects and objectives.
• Support technical activities across the manufacturing engineering function.

Skills

Manufacturing Engineering Apprenticesh

Education

Level 4 Manufacturing Engineering Apprenticeship

Job description

Salary: Competitive Salary

Contract Type: Full Time

Working Pattern: Permanent

The Opportunity – Product Specialist – Manufacturing Engineering (Backhoe)

About the role

We’re looking for a Product Specialist to join the Manufacturing Engineering Team at JCB World Headquarters, supporting Backhoe production operations. This role is focused on supporting current production, introducing new products and processes, creating and maintaining standard operating procedures, conducting time studies, and leading personal projects and objectives. You will play a key role in ensuring efficient production operations, supporting new product introductions, driving continuous improvement activities, and resolving manufacturing issues as they arise.

What does this role involve day to day?

• Providing daily support to production operations and resolving manufacturing issues.
• Resolving PCMs and supporting technical issue resolution.
• Supporting current product and new product introduction (NPI) builds.
• Fully supporting new product introductions from implementation through to production.
• Introducing new parts and processes within the assembly environment.
• Supporting new project builds, including kitting, assembly, process validation, implementation and production training.
• Creating new manufacturing processes and writing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Conducting time studies to support process development and improvement activities.
• Driving continuous improvement initiatives across existing manufacturing processes.
• Managing personal improvement projects and objectives.
• Supporting technical activities across the manufacturing engineering function.

This will be suited to you if…

• You have completed a Level 4 Manufacturing Engineering Apprenticeship or hold an equivalent engineering qualification.
• You have strong attention to detail and a passion for improving processes.
• You can confidently interpret technical drawings.
• You have a proactive, problem‑solving mindset.
• You thrive in teamwork and cross‑department collaboration.
• You have strong organisational and documentation control skills.
• You enjoy supporting production operations within a manufacturing environment.
• You are comfortable managing multiple activities and projects simultaneously.
• You can take ownership of tasks and see them through to completion.

Even better if…

• You have experience supporting production operations within a manufacturing environment.
• You have experience introducing new products and processes into production.
• You have experience creating and maintaining SOPs.
• You have experience conducting time studies.
• You have experience supporting NPI builds and process validation activities.
• You have experience driving continuous improvement projects.
• You have knowledge of root cause analysis methodologies.
• You have experience working within a manufacturing engineering team.

What’s in it for you?

This is your chance to join a company that values expertise not only in rewards but also in real employee care. At JCB you don’t just get a competitive salary, 33 days’ holiday and access to our company pension—you can also use our onsite gym, in‑house doctor and dentist. We have an ULEV car scheme available for our employees too. Then there’s the JCB Rewards Hub, which gives you discounts with high street retailers. Feel like biking to work? There’s our Cycle to Work Scheme.

We value diversity and welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.

We’re committed to ensuring our recruitment process is fair and inclusive. If you face any accessibility challenges with your online application and require additional support, you have the option of speaking to a member of our Recruitment Team who can support you to complete an application in an alternative format. If you would benefit from this support, please email [e-mail], and a member of the team will be in touch.

Recruitment Agencies: JCB does not accept any speculative approaches to present candidates for advertised vacancies.