Senior Manufacturing Engineer

WIKA Instruments Ltd; Chilton; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

WIKA Instruments Ltd is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer to provide senior-level technical support for daily manufacturing operations and drive continuous improvements across processes and tooling. The role focuses on stabilising processes, ensuring capability, and enabling smooth NPI transitions from R&D to production.

You will lead cross-functional initiatives with Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain to optimise workflow, reduce variation, and improve throughput while maintaining

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent engineering education in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Industrial or related field.
• Extensive hands-on experience in a manufacturing or production environment.
• Experience developing, validating, and scaling manufacturing processes.
• Experience designing and commissioning tooling, jigs, and fixtures.
• Experience in NPI/industrialisation and transitioning processes to production.
• Proficient in creating and governing manufacturing documentation (work instructions, control plans, etc.).
• Strong ERP knowledge including routing and BOM management.
• Lean, Six Sigma, and structured continuous improvement methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior-level technical support to daily manufacturing operations, addressing complex process issues and implementing corrective actions.
• Lead process performance monitoring to identify issues and drive improvements in quality, throughput, cost, and repeatability.
• Champion process stability and capability using advanced analysis and continuous improvement techniques.
• Lead design, validation, and lifecycle management of tooling, jigs, and fixtures for scalability and robustness.
• Oversee supplier engagement for tooling manufacture and qualification for deployment.
• Drive industrialisation activities for New Product Introduction (NPI) and transfer to volume production.

Skills

Process improvement

Root-cause analysis

Statistical analysis

8D problem solving

Lean methodology

Six Sigma

ERP systems knowledge

Education

Degree in Mechanical / Manufacturing / Industrial or related engineering

Tools

PFMEA

Control plans

Process capability studies

BOM/routings management

Job description

Senior Manufacturing Engineer

For over 75 years, WIKA has been a renowned partner and competent specialist for any task in the field of measurement technology. With steadily growing efficiency, innovative technologies are applied when developing new products and system solutions. The reliability of the products and the readiness to face all challenges of the market have been the key factors for WIKA achieving a leading position in the global market.

Within the WIKA Group, currently 11,200 employees are dedicated to maintain and improve technology in pressure, temperature, force and level measurement, and also in the fields of flow measurement, calibration and SF6 gas solutions.

WIKA Optical Sensing Ltd, previously known as Oxsensis, was acquired by WIKA in 2023 and brings expertise in optical sensing technology, particularly for pressure and temperature measurement.

Your Activities:

• Provide senior-level technical support to daily manufacturing operations, addressing complex process issues and implementing sustainable corrective and preventive actions.
• Lead process performance monitoring, identifying systemic issues, optimising workflow, and driving improvements in quality, throughput, cost, and repeatability.
• Champion process stability and capability through advanced analysis and continuous improvement techniques.
• Lead the design, specification, validation, and lifecycle management of tooling, jigs, and fixtures, ensuring scalability, ergonomics, and robust performance.
• Oversee supplier engagement for tooling manufacture and qualification, ensuring readiness for operational deployment.
• Drive industrialisation activities for New Product Introduction (NPI), ensuring seamless transfer from R&D to volume production.
• Develop, validate, and optimise manufacturing methods using PFMEA, control plans, process capability studies, and statistical analysis.
• Provide senior influence on Design-for-Manufacture (DFM) activities in collaboration with engineering teams.
• Ensure the creation, governance, and continuous improvement of high-quality work instructions and process documentation.
• Mentor and train engineers, technicians, and operators on new processes, tooling, and best practices.
• Support internal and external audits, customer visits, and technical reviews as a subject‑matter expert.
• Own and optimise ERP manufacturing master data including routings and BOMs, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and alignment with operational capabilities.
• Work closely with Planning, Supply Chain, Quality, and Engineering to maintain rigorous configuration control across the production lifecycle.
• Lead cross-functional root-cause investigations, structured problem-solving (e.g., 8D), and continuous improvement projects.
• Support automation initiatives and evaluate new technologies to enhance operational capability and efficiency.

Your Profile:

Essential Experience:

• Degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial or a related engineering discipline, or equivalent engineering experience.
• Extensive hands‑on experience in a manufacturing or production environment.
• Proven expertise in developing, validating, and scaling manufacturing processes.
• Demonstrated capability in designing and commissioning tooling, jigs, and fixtures.
• Significant experience in NPI, industrialisation, and transitioning processes into production.
• Strong competency in producing and governing manufacturing documentation (work instructions, control plans, process documentation, etc.).
• Advanced experience with ERP systems including routing and BOM management.
• Strong knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, and structured continuous improvement methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to influence cross‑functional teams including Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Operations.

Desirable:

• Experience working with D365 Finance and Operations (Microsoft ERP system).
• Knowledge of quality systems such as ISO9001 and AS9100.
• Experience of working with and processing optical fibres including splicing and joining.
• Technical understanding and experience of manufacturing optical devices.
• Background in automation technology selection or deployment.
• Proficiency with structured root‑cause methodologies such as 8D.

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