R&D Technician

Kinetic plc; Preston; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

KineticPlc in Preston is seeking an experienced R&D Technician to drive tool manufacture, moulding trials, and design-for-manufacturability feedback for new product concepts. You will lead hands-on fabrication, tool debugging, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure prototypes transition smoothly to production.

The role requires fabrication and welding experience, tool development, and a problem-solving mindset. Hours are 39.5 per week, Monday to Friday, with a 16:30 finish on Fridays.

Qualifications

• Experience in Fabrication & welding.
• Experience with tool manufacture and development.
• Experience with verification & testing of tools and moulds.

Responsibilities

• Input to Design Reviews.
• Tool Manufacture & Development.
• Design for Manufacturability (DfM) Reviews.
• New Tool Modifications.
• Tool Specifications.
• New Tool Verification & Snagging.
• Perform R&D Moulding Trials (verify operational parameters).
• Product Verification & Testing.
• Pilot Production Run Support.
• New Jigs and Formers.
• Coordination with Other Departments.
• Advanced Maintenance.
• Training & Knowledge Transfer.
• Health, Safety & Compliance.

Skills

Fabrication & welding

Tool manufacture

Verification & testing

Job description

Are you looking for a permanent position as a Research & Development Technician?Is Preston an area that you can easily commute to work?Would a salary of circa £40000 be OK for you?Do you have experience & qualifications in Fabrication & welding?Can you demonstrate a work history of tool manufacture and fabrication roles?

Suitable candidates will be called and given additional information on the role and the company.

R&D Technician Roles

• Input to Design Reviews
• Tool Manufacture & Development
• Design for Manufacturability (DfM) Reviews
• New Tool Modifications
• Tool Specifications
• New Tool Verification & Snagging
• Perform R&D Moulding Trials (verify operational parameters)
• Product Verification & Testing
• Pilot Production Run Support
• New Jigs and Formers
• Coordination with Other Departments
• Advanced Maintenance
• Training & Knowledge Transfer
• Health, Safety & Compliance

The R&D Technician is the problem solver and hands on technical expert who ensures new product concepts are efficiently and reliably converted into prototype and tooling. You will drive the end to end delivery of bespoke tools - manufacturing, modifying and snagging new moulds and formers, while feeding critical design for manufacturability insights back into design reviews to simplify production handover. By leading R&D moulding trials, executing thorough verification and testing, and advising on advanced maintenance, you become the backbone of development. Your expertise not only keeps projects on schedule but also guides R&D toward smarter, more tool friendly designs. Through hands on fabrication, cross functional collaboration and a rigorous problem solving mindset, you'll safeguard an agile, efficient development pipeline that underpins the company's innovation goals.

Role - R&D Technician

Location - Preston

Hours - 39.5 hours, Monday to Friday (8:00am -17:00pm with 16.30pm finish Fri)