Senior Injection Moulding Technician

Xia Engineering; Lutterworth; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Days shifts

Job summary

Xia Engineering is recruiting a Senior Injection Moulding Technician for a plastics manufacturer in South Leicestershire. The role involves running T0 trials, setting up insert moulding and overmoulding, and supporting rapid changeovers on small-batch work.

You will be the go-to technical on the shop floor, reporting to the Mould Shop Supervisor, ensuring first-off approval and maintaining quality on short runs.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ experience setting and processing on injection moulding machines.
• Hands-on experience with tool trials and sampling, from T0 through to process sign‑off.
• Experience of insert moulding and/or overmoulding.
• Comfort with high‑mix, low‑volume work and frequent changeovers.
• Strong process knowledge and a methodical approach to troubleshooting defects.

Responsibilities

• Run T0 trials and mould sampling on new tools, developing robust processes and supporting process validation.
• Set up insert moulding and overmoulding jobs, including insert loading, positioning, and checks on bonding and encapsulation.
• Make frequent tool and material changes on small-batch work, setting machines from zero to spec quickly and accurately.
• Check that material, masterbatch and inserts match each job, and use the correct jigs, fixtures and auxiliary equipment.
• Carry out first-off inspections and get approval before production starts.
• Lead troubleshooting on moulding defects and process problems, and optimise cycle times without affecting quality.
• Find and fix material feed and drying issues.
• Work closely with QC and Toolmakers on tool modifications, trial feedback and recurring problems.
• Respond to machine alarms, find root causes and perform basic maintenance.
• Report cycle time and scrap variances, and keep the work cell safe, clean and organised.

Skills

Injection moulding

T0 trials

Process troubleshooting

Changeovers

Health and safety awareness

Tools

Engel machines

Arburg machines

Sumitomo machines

Robotics handling / automation experience

Job description

Senior Injection Moulding Technician

Location: South Leicestershire (commutable from Leicester, Rugby, Hinckley and Market Harborough)

Salary: £35,000 - £45,000 + [benefits]

Hours: Days

Type: Permanent

The role

Xia Engineering is recruiting a Senior Injection Moulding Technician for an established plastics manufacturer in South Leicestershire. This isn't a role running the same tool for weeks at a time. The work is small-batch and varied, with lots of T0 trials on new tools, plus a large amount of insert moulding and overmoulding.

You’ll report to the Mould Shop Supervisor and be the go-to technical person on the shop floor. You’ll get new tools from first shot to a stable, validated process, handle frequent changeovers and keep quality right on short runs where there's little room to fine-tune.

This day-shift role suits a technician who likes variety and a technical challenge, and who gets satisfaction from proving out a new tool.

What you'll be doing

• Running T0 trials and mould sampling on new tools, developing robust processes and supporting process validation
• Setting up insert moulding and overmoulding jobs, including insert loading, positioning, and checks on bonding and encapsulation
• Making frequent tool and material changes on small-batch work, setting machines from zero to spec quickly and accurately
• Checking that material, masterbatch and inserts match each job, and using the correct jigs, fixtures and auxiliary equipment
• Carrying out first-off inspections and getting approval before production starts
• Leading troubleshooting on moulding defects and process problems, and optimising cycle times without affecting quality
• Finding and fixing material feed and drying issues
• Working closely with QC and Toolmakers on tool modifications, trial feedback and recurring problems
• Responding to machine alarms, finding the root cause and doing basic maintenance (oil, water flow, heater bands, air lines, filters, O-rings, sensors, hoses)
• Reporting cycle time and scrap variances, and keeping the work cell safe, clean and organised

What you’ll need

• At least 5 years’ experience setting and processing on injection moulding machines
• Hands‑on experience of tool trials and sampling, from T0 through to process sign‑off
• Experience of insert moulding and/or overmoulding
• Comfort with high‑mix, low-volume work and frequent changeovers
• Strong process knowledge and a methodical approach to troubleshooting defects
• Close attention to detail and a solid awareness of health and safety

Nice to have

• Experience on Engel, Arburg or Sumitomo machines
• Experience with robotic handling or automation in moulding
• Knowledge of ISO 9001 or similar quality systems
• Scientific moulding or formal plastics processing training

What’s on offer

• £35,000 - £45,000, depending on experience
• Days, so no shifts or nights, although flexibility will be required.
• Varied, technically interesting work rather than repetitive production