Senior Advanced Engineering Lead - Advanced Manufacturing Scale-Up (assembly with electrification and injection moulding inputs)

Unipart; Coventry; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car or car allowance

33 days holiday (incl. bank holidays)

Pension

Bonus

Life assurance

Employee assistance programme

Wellbeing support

Cycle to work scheme

Job summary

Unipart Manufacturing is launching a flagship, fast-paced scale-up project in Coventry, combining electrification assembly with advanced injection moulding inputs. We seek a Senior Advanced Engineering Leader to build and drive the engineering capability from the ground up, reporting to senior leadership and delivering rapid capability development.

You will own engineering strategy, tool investments, plant layouts, and NPIs, while ensuring quality, cost and delivery targets through TPM, FMEA,

Qualifications

• Engineering leadership experience, preferably in defence/aerospace environments.
• Familiarity with AQAP 2110 or AS9100D frameworks.
• Experience with FAIR/AS9102 and defence line-validation processes (AS9145/Def Stan 05-61).
• Knowledge of Defence Configuration Management standards and safety risk assessment like Def Stan 00-056/POEMS.
• Bachelor-level engineering degree; Lean Six Sigma/FMEA desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead the operational engineering strategy and NPI for the scale-up project.
• Direct process control for electrification assembly and polymer/injection moulding inputs.
• Ensure quality, cost, and delivery targets are met (QCD) with zero-defect aims.
• Embed Lean and Unipart Way practices across the engineering team.
• Oversee compliance, safety rules, and defence/standards across production lines.
• Adapt scope and processes as the project grows in this fast-paced environment.

Skills

Engineering Leadership

Quality & Systems

Line Validation & Inspection

Configuration & Safety

Qualifications

Education

Undergraduate degree in Engineering

Job description

Senior Advanced Engineering Lead - Advanced Manufacturing Scale-Up (assembly with electrification and injection moulding inputs)

Coventry

Up to £70,000 plus car/car allowance, 33 days holiday (including bank holidays), pension, bonus, life assurance, employee assistance programme, wellbeing support, and flexible benefits including cycle to work scheme

About the Role

Unipart Manufacturing is launching a flagship, fast-paced manufacturing project in Coventry, combining high-volume electrification assembly with complex injection moulding inputs. Fully aligned with Unipart’s Sector and Growth Strategy and The Unipart Way Forward Plan, this critical project will scale from zero to over 200 employees within just four months. We are seeking a high-calibre Senior Advanced Engineering Leader (Engineering Manager) with deep technical expertise in electrification and injection moulding assembly. Reporting directly to senior executive leadership, you will drive operational engineering strategy, building a high-performing engineering capability from the ground up.

As part of your key responsibilities you’ll focus on:

• Engineering Strategy and NPI - Lead the operational engineering strategy, capital equipment/tooling investments, plant layouts, and NPI processes to ensure fast-paced project delivery
• Electrification and Moulding Technical Delivery - Direct process control, equipment care (TPM), and engineering solutions across high-volume electrification assembly lines and polymer/injection moulding inputs
• Quality and QCD Performance - Maintain best-practice tooling and process specifications to hit quality, cost, and delivery (QCD) targets, maintaining zero-defect and right-first-time engineering standards
• Lean Culture and The Unipart Way - Embed Unipart Way systems, root-cause problem-solving (FMEA), continuous improvement tools, and standardised processes across the engineering team
• Compliance and Standards - Oversee process control adherence, safety rules, AQAP 2110 / AS9100D, and ISO 14001 / Def Stan 00-056 standards, ensuring full engineering compliance, configuration management, and defence requirements across all production lines
• Change Management - This is a fast-paced, evolving project where your scope will grow alongside the initiative itself - while core deliverables are clear, flexibility is key - you’ll have the opportunity to shape processes, adapt to changing priorities, and directly influence the project's direction as it unfolds

About You

We’d love you to have the following skills and experience, but please apply if you think you’d be able to perform well in this role!

• Engineering Leadership - Proven track record managing an engineering department or senior engineering function, ideally within the Defence sector
• Quality and Systems Background - Defence or Aerospace manufacturing background (MoD / NATO supply chain) with experience operating under AQAP 2110 or AS9100D frameworks
• Line Validation and Inspection - Experience with First Article Inspection Reports (FAIR / AS9102) and formal defence line-validation processes (AS9145 or Def Stan 05-61)
• Configuration and Safety Management - Knowledge of Defence Configuration Management standards and Safety Risk Assessment frameworks like Def Stan 00-056 or POEMS (Project Environment and Safety Management System)
• Qualifications - Undergraduate degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, or Production), Science, or equivalent demonstrable experience; FMEA/Lean Six Sigma expertise is highly desirable

About Unipart

We are a supply chain performance improvement partner. We Design, Make, Move, and Improve components in our customers’ supply chains, keeping their operations and assets moving and working better, for longer. Through our commitment to continuously driving operational efficiencies, we improve performance - saving time, cost, and carbon. Our ambition is to be the driving force behind efficient, resilient, and sustainable supply chains.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

We believe that a great workplace is one where you can bring your whole self to work. Our recruitment process is designed to be accessible, inclusive, and based entirely on merit. We define merit through a combination of technical skills and the core behaviours that help our people thrive at Unipart. We welcome applications from everyone, regardless of background or circumstances. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity that exceeds our statutory obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and subsequent legislation. Whether it's your age, disability, neurodiversity, gender identity, family status, or any other characteristic that makes you ‘you’ - it is your talent and potential that we value most. Adjustments for you: We want you to perform at your best. If you require any reasonable adjustments or have specific accessibility needs at any stage of the application or interview process, please let us know. We are here to support you.