Senior CNC Machining Shop Manager

Red Chilli Recruitment; Southampton; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Red Chilli Recruitment seeks an experienced Machine Shop Manager in Southampton to lead a busy machining function within a highly technical environment. You will manage a team, oversee CNC and manual machining, and ensure on-time delivery of high-quality work while coordinating with engineering and production teams.

The role emphasizes hands-on leadership, production planning, and effective procurement to sustain capacity and performance.

Qualifications

• Key requirement: strong practical experience in a machine shop with team leadership.
• Ideally: knowledge of CNC machining, procurement and external manufacturing.
• Experience to ensure shop operates efficiently, meets production/project requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead the machine shop team.
• Oversee day-to-day machining activities and workflow.
• Ensure work meets quality, specs and deadlines.
• Manage CNC and manual machining activities.
• Support production and capacity planning and resource allocation.
• Procure materials, tooling and shop needs.
• Outsource metallic work where required.
• Coordinate with external suppliers on quality, cost and delivery.
• Monitor stock and material requirements.
• Collaborate with engineering and production teams.
• Support quality control and inspection needs.
• Identify efficiency improvements and manufacturing capability gains.
• Provide technical input into machining projects.
• Support project planning and delivery.
• Develop and support the machine shop team.

Skills

Machine shop experience

Team leadership

CNC machining

Procurement

Outsourcing

Project management

Production planning

Communication

Tools

CNC machines

Inspection tools

Job description

Red Chilli Recruitment seeks an experienced Machine Shop Manager in Southampton to lead a busy machining function within a highly technical environment. You will manage a team, oversee CNC and manual machining, and ensure on-time delivery of high-quality work while coordinating with engineering and production teams.

The role emphasizes hands-on leadership, production planning, and effective procurement to sustain capacity and performance.