Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Leonardo; Luton; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Time to recharge with flexi-days

Pension up to 15%

Mental health support

Online courses (Coursera/LinkedIn)

Refer a friend bonus

Flexible benefits up to £500

Hybrid working

Job summary

Leonardo in Luton is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer to drive the smooth transition of new products from design into manufacture. You will lead front-end manufacturing engineering activities, provide DfX input, and solve production issues to ensure timely, cost-effective introductions into operations.

You will develop processes, support Manufacturing Maturity Reviews, and deliver manufacturing decisions to optimize schedules, costs, and capacity while building staff capabilities.

Qualifications

• HND (or higher) in a relevant engineering discipline (e.g. electronics, mechanical) or equivalent experience.
• Excellent practical knowledge of manufacturing processes and principles.
• Ability to articulate and explain technical understanding.

Responsibilities

• Lead front-end manufacturing engineering activities, provide DfX input into design.
• Develop manufacturing processes by studying product requirements and testing methods.
• Support Manufacturing Maturity Reviews and Lifecycle Management governance.
• Provide manufacturing decision-making information for production schedules and costs.
• Build prototype products, write work instructions and train staff.
• Resolve routine to complex production issues and improve efficiency.

Skills

Manufacturing processes

Problem solving

Data analysis

Technical communication

Lifecycle knowledge

Education

HND or higher in engineering

Job description

Job Description

Your Impact

We are looking for a Senior Manufacturing Engineer to join us at Leonardo in the Luton Manufacturing Engineering Team. You will be part of the Manufacturing Operations business unit, which is a leader in delivering defence electronics, mission critical systems for situational awareness, electronic warfare, communications and surveillance across the land, air and sea domains.

As a Manufacturing Engineer, you will have the opportunity to build cross‑functional relationships and be a positive influence within the project teams to support the future of the business and affect the production process.

As a Senior Manufacturing Engineer, you will be responsible for the smooth transition of our new products from design into manufacture and will lead the front‑end manufacturing engineering activities, from providing DfX input into the design (i.e. design for manufacturing, assembly and test), to solving production capability issues. Your technical and project management skills will help to ensure that new products are introduced into operations in a timely, efficient, cost effective and accurate manner.

You will join your team in the following activities:

• Developing manufacturing processes by studying product requirements; researching, designing, modifying, and testing manufacturing methods and equipment; understanding feedback from Leonardo operators, conferring with equipment vendors or external suppliers
• Participating and supporting Manufacturing Maturity Reviews, maintaining governance through the Lifecycle Management process and creating/contributing to Manufacturing Plans
• Providing manufacturing decision‑making information to aid the:
  • review of production schedules; reviewing production labour and material costs; estimating future requirements
  • preparation of product and process reports by collecting, analysing, and summarising information and trends
• Building prototype products, writing work instructions and training manufacturing staff
• Resolving routine, and some complex, product and/or production issues and constraints (relieving bottlenecks) on the shop floor, reacting efficiently to escalation from manufacturing teams
• Improving manufacturing efficiency by participating in capacity analysis, simulation planning workflow, space requirements, and equipment/process layout

What you'll bring

• HND (or higher) in a relevant engineering discipline (e.g. electronics, mechanical), or equivalent experience in a similar role
• Excellent practical knowledge of manufacturing processes and principles
• Pro-active, 'can do' attitude with good problem-solving and data analysis skills
• Ability to articulate and explain technical understanding
• Demonstrated experience of having own work peer reviewed and implementing subsequent actions
• Demonstrated knowledge of more than one phase of the Product Life Cycle and the associated discipline processes

This is not an exhaustive list, and we are keen to hear from you even if you might not have experience in all the above. The most important skills are being a team player and having a good attitude and willingness to learn.

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre‑employment screening in line with the UK Government's Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for the Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting

Why join us

At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work-life balance. Whether you're looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we're here to help you thrive.

• Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.
• Secure your Future: Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).
• Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
• Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
• Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, technology and lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
• Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.

Leonardo UK operates a grade-based salary framework with broad bands. The salary range shown reflects the approved grade band for this role, or a narrower hiring range published within that band, and is bench marked against the external market. Exceptions above the standard range are managed through governance controls to protect internal equity.

For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website.

Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team—they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.

At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.

Primary Location: GB - Luton - Cap. Green 300

Contract Type: Employee-Permanent

Hybrid Working: Hybrid