Senior Manufacturing Engineer

BAE Systems; Samlesbury; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense contractor in the UK is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer to improve operational performance through effective data analysis and resource planning. You will work closely with cross-functional teams and implement continuous improvement initiatives, particularly in the context of aircraft manufacturing. The ideal candidate has an HND or equivalent, strong Excel skills, and relevant engineering experience. This role offers a competitive pension scheme and various flexible benefits.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

Employee share plans

Flexible health benefits

Wellbeing and lifestyle benefits

Shopping discounts

Qualifications

• Minimum HND qualification or equivalent.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment is preferred.
• Strong Excel skills for data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Utilize data analysis and timing trees for operational performance.
• Develop work balance boards for resource planning.
• Identify improvement opportunities through observations.

Skills

Data analysis

Interpersonal skills

Computer literacy

Knowledge of machining

Understanding of aircraft manufacturing

Education

HND qualification or equivalent

Degree qualification in relevant engineering discipline

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

Job Description - Senior Manufacturing Engineer (00132718)

Senior Manufacturing Engineer - 00132718

Job Title: Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Location: Samlesbury (Full-time on site)

What you’ll be doing:

• Using data analysis , standard time values and timing trees to assess and optimise operational performance
• Developing and maintaining work balance boards to line balance stations, supporting effective resource and workload planning
• Conducting workplace observations and time studies to identify improvement opportunities
• Collaborating closely with cross-functional teams, produce time estimates to support business cases and drive process enhancements
• Implementing efficiency improvements to reduce waste, cost and non-value-added activity on the shop floor
• Supporting the development of improvement plans and contributing to continuous improvement initiatives

Your skills and experiences:

• Hold as a minimum either a HND qualification or equivalent or have completed a recognised apprenticeship
• Experience of working in a manufacturing environment, preferably within an Industrial Engineering role and where possible hold an understanding of the challenges associated with aircraft manufacturing
• Computer literacy, particularly in the use of Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint and be able to utilise Excel to conduct data analysis
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to build working relationships at all levels of the organisation
• Degree qualification or equivalent in a relevant engineering discipline
• F35 experience
• Machining knowledge

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts - you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.

The F35 Industrial Engineering Team:

Operating across the Manufacturing Engineering discipline, you will be implementing tools and techniques to standardise working practices, This will include tasks such as ensuring manufacturing activities are measurable, producing accurate costings and working to eliminate key wastes across existing and future process.

This is an exciting opportunity working within a close-knit team, including line balancing to achieve a challenging cost target and implementing new methods and technologies to the detail areas and assembly production lines within the F35 business.

Why BAE Systems?

This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc .) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role , to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date:

18th December 2025

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role . Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.