R&D Technician

Employment Solutions Ltd

Preston

On-site

GBP 36,000 - 44,000

Full time

7 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave + 8 public hols

Additional holiday purchase scheme

Company pension

Healthcare scheme

Death in service benefit

Free on-site parking

Tea and coffee provided

Permanent, stable position

Monday-Friday working hours

Job summary

Employment Solutions Ltd is seeking an experienced R&D Technician in Preston to drive the manufacture and development of bespoke tooling, moulds, jigs and formers used in new product development.

You will work closely with R&D, engineering and production teams, turning concepts into production-ready tooling while solving engineering problems from drawings and prototyping through to verification.

Qualifications

Minimum of 10 years' hands-on experience within tool manufacture and/or fabrication.
Strong sheet metal fabrication skills.
Experience developing complex shapes and bespoke components.
Strong MIG and TIG welding skills.
Experience with bending, drilling, grinding and press brake setup.
Ability to interpret and manufacture from detailed engineering drawings.
Excellent practical problem-solving skills.
Good 3D visualization skills and understanding of manufacturability.
Experience managing multiple projects and priorities.

Responsibilities

Manufacture and develop tooling, moulds, jigs and formers for new product development.
Build components from detailed engineering drawings.
Carry out sheet metal fabrication and develop complex shapes.
MIG and TIG weld to a high standard.
Support design reviews with practical manufacturing input.
Provide advanced maintenance and technical support as required.
Work with R&D and production teams to transition concepts into manufacture.

Skills

Fabrication & tooling

MIG welding

TIG welding

Reading drawings

Problem solving

Dimensional inspection

Communication

Project management

3D visualization

Education

Level 3 NVQ / City & Guilds in Fabrication & Welding Engineering

Tools

Micrometers

Calipers

Bending equipment

Press brake setup

Job description

R&D Technician - Fabrication & Tooling

Location: Preston / Fulwood, Lancashire

Salary: Up to £40,000 DOE

Hours: Monday-Friday, 39.5 hours per week

Permanent | Days

We are recruiting for an experienced R&D Technician to join a well-established and highly successful manufacturing business based in the Preston area.

This is an excellent opportunity for a skilled Fabricator, Toolmaker, Sheet Metal Worker or Development Technician who enjoys solving engineering problems, working from drawings and turning new product concepts into practical prototypes, tooling, moulds and production-ready solutions.

This is a genuinely hands-on engineering position where you will work closely with the R&D and wider manufacturing teams, taking projects from initial concept through manufacture, modification, testing and final verification.

The Role

As R&D Technician, you will be responsible for the manufacture and development of bespoke tooling, moulds, jigs and formers used in new product development.

Your duties will include:

Manufacturing and developing new tooling, moulds, jigs and formers
Building components and tooling from detailed engineering drawings
Carrying out sheet metal fabrication and developing complex shapes
MIG and TIG welding to a high standard
Bending, drilling, grinding and press brake work
Modifying and improving new tooling during the development process
Carrying out new tool verification and snagging
Supporting design reviews and providing practical manufacturing input
Advising design teams on Design for Manufacturability (DfM)
Carrying out R&D moulding trials and verifying operating parameters
Product verification, testing and problem solving
Supporting pilot production runs and the transition of new products into manufacture
Working with a range of materials including sheet metal, plastics, wood and composites
Using measuring equipment including micrometers and calipers
Providing advanced maintenance and technical support where required
Working closely with R&D, engineering and production departments
Sharing technical knowledge and supporting less experienced team members
Ensuring work is completed in line with health, safety and quality requirements

What We're Looking For

We are particularly interested in hearing from candidates with a strong practical background in fabrication, tooling, prototype manufacture or product development.

You will ideally have:

A minimum of 10 years' hands-on experience within tool manufacture and/or fabrication
Strong sheet metal fabrication skills
Experience developing complex shapes and bespoke components
Strong MIG and TIG welding skills
Experience with bending, drilling, grinding and press brake setup
The ability to confidently interpret and manufacture from detailed engineering drawings
Excellent practical problem-solving skills
Good 3D visualisation skills with the ability to understand how a finished component or tool needs to be manufactured
Experience taking complex projects from concept through to manufacture and verification
Experience working with different materials
Good knowledge of dimensional inspection and measuring equipment
Excellent attention to detail
The ability to manage multiple projects and priorities
Good communication skills and the confidence to work across different engineering departments
A Level 3 NVQ / City & Guilds qualification in Fabrication & Welding Engineering, Sheet Metal or similar
Full UK driving licence
Experience within a manufacturing environment or knowledge of plastic moulding processes such as rotational or injection moulding would be advantageous but is not essential.

Salary & Benefits

Salary up to £40,000, depending on experience and capability.

Benefits include: