Senior Manufacturing Engineer

LEONARDO Germany GmbH; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexibility in hybrid work

Time to Recharge: flexi-days up to 12

Pension scheme up to 15% employer

Mental health support

Bonus scheme

Online courses 4,000+

Referral programme

Flexible benefits up to £500

Job summary

Leonardo UK Ltd in Southampton is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer to lead front-end manufacturing activities. You will drive design-for-manufacture input, resolve production issues, and support world-class production across the integrated sensing and protection lines.

Role requires strong manufacturing knowledge, Lean/Six Sigma experience, and ability to collaborate across IPTs. Hybrid working is available with onsite presence in Southampton.

Qualifications

• Degree in relevant engineering discipline or equivalent experience.
• Excellent solid practical knowledge of manufacturing processes and principles.
• Ability to articulate and explain technical understanding.
• Good problem solving skills, data analysis skills.
• Demonstrated achievement and delivery of own work packages within a single engineering discipline.
• Demonstrated experience in having own work peer reviewed and implementing resulting actions.
• Demonstrated knowledge of more than one phase of the Product Life Cycle and the associated discipline processes.
• Knowledge of related engineering disciplines and levels of interaction required within a project.
• Experience implementing/using Lean Manufacturing principles and methodologies such as 5S and Value Stream Mapping.
• Experience with Lean 6 Sigma and/or formal qualification i.e. Green / Black Belt.
• Experience working with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) principles.
• Experience reviewing mechanical component technical drawings.
• Extensive knowledge of metallic machining principles and technologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead front-end manufacturing engineering activities from design for manufacturing input to resolving production capability issues.
• Develop, improve and support operations manufacturing processes and equipment for world class production.
• Develop manufacturing processes by studying product requirements, testing methods, and equipment.
• Participate in Manufacturing Maturity Reviews and Lifecycle Management governance.
• Provide manufacturing decision-making information on schedules, costs, and requirements.
• Create and maintain manufacturing documentation and process methods.
• Support Material & Failure Review Boards and failure investigations.
• Maintain routings, production plans and electronic work instructions.
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Skills

Manufacturing processes

Problem solving

Data analysis

Technical communication

Project delivery

Lifecycle knowledge

Engineering decision making

Cross-functional collaboration

Lean thinking

GD&T principles

Machining knowledge

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

Lean Manufacturing

Lean Six Sigma

GD&T

Job description

Job Description

Your Impact

We are looking for a Senior Manufacturing Engineer to join us at Leonardo in Southampton. You will be part of the Integrated Sensing and Protection line of business, 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.

What you’ll do as a Senior Manufacturing Engineer

In this role, 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 DFM input into the design, to solving production capability issues. Your technical and project management skills will help to ensure that new products and equipment are introduced into operations in a timely, efficient, cost effective and accurate manner.

As a Manufacturing Engineer you will join the team to develop, improve and support the operations manufacturing processes and equipment enabling world class production of Leonardo products.

Typical Accountabilities & activities will include:

• 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
• To participate and support Manufacturing Maturity Reviews, maintain governance through the Lifecycle Management process and create / contribute / Manufacturing Plans
• Provide manufacturing decision-making information to aid:
  • reviewing production schedules; reviewing production labour and material costs; estimating future requirements
  • prepare product and process reports by collecting, analysing, and summarizing information and trends
• Ability to resolve routine and some complex product and/or production issues & constraints (relieving bottlenecks) on shop floor reacting efficiently to escalation from manufacturing teams
• Improve manufacturing efficiency by participating in capacity analysis, simulation planning workflow, space requirements, and equipment layout
• Create and maintain manufacturing documentation, can include input to process specific risk assessments, COSHH data, technical reports, specifications
• Create and maintain product and process methods; validation/verification of process capabilities; establishing standards; confirming manufacturing processes
• Support to Material & Failure Review Boards and failure investigations
• Maintain manufacturing data i.e. routings, production plans, control plans and electronic work instructions
• Participating in continuous improvement activities to develop skills and competencies within Manufacturing Engineering
• May supervise an apprentice, Industrial Placement or Summer Student
• Working with / participating with IPT functions (e.g. engineering design, quality) to ensure the ongoing integration of requirements and guiding other members of the team
• Maintain product and company reputation by complying with government regulations

What you'll bring

• Degree in relevant engineering discipline or equivalent experience in role.
• Excellent solid practical knowledge of manufacturing processes and principles
• Ability to articulate and explain technical understanding
• Good problem solving skills, data analysis skills
• Demonstrated achievement and delivery of own work packages within a single engineering discipline
• Demonstrated experience in having own work peer reviewed and implementing resulting actions
• Demonstrated knowledge of more than one phase of the Product Life Cycle and the associated discipline processes
• Demonstrated awareness of engineering decision making and risk/reward trade-offs associated with project engineering activity
• Knowledge of related engineering disciplines and levels of interaction required within a project

• Experience implementing/using Lean Manufacturing principles and methodologies such as 5S and Value Stream Mapping
• Experience with Lean 6 Sigma and/or formal qualification i.e. Green / Black Belt
• Experience working with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) principles
• Experience reviewing mechanical component technical drawings
• Extensive knowledge of metallic machining principles and technologies

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 skill is 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, tech & 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 benchmarked 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.

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 - Southampton

Contract Type: Permanent

Hybrid Working: Onsite