Production Engineer

Vacgen Ltd; Hailsham; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

25 days holiday

Salary sacrifice pension

Life insurance

EV salary sacrifice

Cycle to Work

Career development opportunities

Modern manufacturing facility

Job summary

VACGEN is seeking a Production Engineer to join our team in Hailsham, East Sussex. This role bridges design and manufacturing, turning innovative concepts into manufacturable products and driving continuous improvement.

You will support NPI, develop routes and BOMs, create tooling and drawings, and collaborate across design, manufacturing and quality to deliver high-quality, cost-effective solutions.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in Engineering.
• Experience with CAD and producing models/drawings.
• Strong understand of manufacturing processes and engineering principles.
• Experience creating technical documentation and process instructions.

Responsibilities

• Develop manufacturing routes and BOMs for products.
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) activities.
• Provide technical input for quotations and cost estimates.
• Collaborate with Design and Manufacturing to optimise processes.
• Lead root cause investigations and implement corrective actions (NCR/8D).
• Design vacuum chambers and production tooling using 3D CAD.
• Produce detailed engineering drawings and manufacturing documentation.
• Review customer build-to-print designs and provide feedback.

Skills

Manufacturing experience

CAD software

MS Office

Root cause analysis

NPI experience

Documentation

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Strong communication

Education

Engineering degree

HNC or equivalent

Tools

ERP systems

3D CAD software

Job description

Location: Hailsham, East Sussex (BN27 4EL)
Salary: Competitive, DOE + Excellent Benefits
Contract: Permanent, Full Time
Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Benefits: Competitive salary, Private medical insurance, 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, Salary sacrifice pension scheme, Life insurance, Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme, Cycle to Work Scheme, State-of-the-art manufacturing environment and Career development opportunities within a growing engineering business

Help Shape Technology Used by the World's Leading Scientific Organisations

For more than 60 years, VACGEN has been at the forefront of ultra-high vacuum (UHV) technology, designing and manufacturing precision-engineered solutions that enable some of the world's most advanced scientific research.

Our products support groundbreaking work conducted by organisations including NASA, CERN, the European Space Agency and leading research institutes across the globe.

We're now looking for an ambitious and technically-minded Production Engineer to join our growing team.

This is far more than a production support role. You'll play a key part in transforming innovative designs into manufacturable products, driving continuous improvement, supporting New Product Introduction (NPI) activities and helping to shape the future of our manufacturing operations.

If you're someone who enjoys solving complex engineering challenges, improving processes and working on highly specialised products, this could be the perfect opportunity.

The Role

As a Production Engineer, you'll work closely with Design, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain and Customers to ensure products can be manufactured efficiently, economically and to the highest quality standards.

From developing manufacturing routes and supporting product launches to designing vacuum chambers and investigating production issues, you'll be involved throughout the product lifecycle.

You'll have the opportunity to influence how products are built, identify opportunities for improvement and help deliver innovative engineering solutions that make a real difference.

Key Responsibilities

• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) activities, ensuring products are successfully transitioned into manufacture.
• Develop and maintain manufacturing routes, Bills of Materials (BOMs) and engineering data within the ERP system.
• Provide technical input for quotations, cost estimates and manufacturing feasibility assessments.
• Collaborate with Design and Manufacturing teams to optimise products and production processes.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality, efficiency and cost reduction.
• Create and maintain manufacturing documentation, work instructions and process controls.
• Support engineering change processes, reviewing and implementing ECNs.
• Lead root cause investigations and support corrective and preventative actions through NCR and 8D methodologies.
• Design vacuum chambers, fixtures and production tooling using 3D CAD software.
• Produce detailed engineering drawings and manufacturing documentation.
• Review customer build-to-print designs and provide engineering feedback where required.
• Complete DFMEA and PFMEA activities in line with PPAP requirements.
• Develop and deliver training relating to manufacturing systems and processes.
• Liaise with customers and suppliers to support project delivery and technical requirements.

About You

You'll be a practical and solutions-focused engineer who enjoys working between design and manufacture.

You will thrive in a collaborative environment, be comfortable taking ownership of projects and enjoy finding better ways of doing things.

• Proven experience within a manufacturing or production engineering environment.
• Degree, HNC or equivalent qualification in Engineering.
• Experience using CAD software and producing engineering models and drawings.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and engineering principles.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience creating technical documentation and process instructions.
• Hands‑on engineering capability, including the assembly of complex mechanical products.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• We'd Love to See
• Experience in precision engineering or high-technology manufacturing.
• Knowledge of ERP systems and manufacturing control processes.
• Experience supporting NPI projects.
• Understanding of DFMEA, PFMEA, PPAP, 8D and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience working directly with customers and suppliers.

Why Join VACGEN?

At VACGEN, you'll be part of a business where innovation, precision and collaboration drive everything we do.

You'll have the opportunity to work on fascinating engineering projects, influence manufacturing strategy and contribute to products that enable world-leading scientific discoveries.

Whether it's supporting space exploration, particle physics research or advanced industrial applications, your work will have a tangible impact on technologies used around the world.

Most importantly, you'll join a team that values expertise, encourages new ideas and invests in the development of its people.