Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Electronics Assembly

Tekever; Swindon; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company pension

25 days annual holiday + 8 Bank hol

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Salary sacrifice schemes

Discretionary annual bonus

Job summary

TEKEVER, a pioneering defence technology company, seeks a Senior Manufacturing Engineer to join its UK Swindon site and shape the production setup for AR3, AR3 EVO, and AR5 platforms. You will own manufacturing processes from raw materials to flight‑ready aircraft, including transferring proven methods from Portugal to the UK facility.

You will spend most of your time on the shop floor as the technical authority, driving resolution of production issues, leading improvement projects, and aligning

Qualifications

• Hands-on, production-based SMT, through-hole and harness experience.
• IPC-A-610 and IPC/WHMA-A-620 applied in production.
• AS9100/ISO 9001 production environment experience.
• NPI and industrialisation for electronic assemblies.
• Process validation and manufacturing documentation authorship.
• UK SC clearance eligible; BPSS eligible from day one.

Responsibilities

• Design, document and prove out SMT, through-hole and harness assembly processes.
• Apply IPC-A-610 and IPC/WHMA-A-620 acceptance criteria to production decisions.
• Lead tech transfer of established electronics build processes from Portugal to Swindon.
• Specify tooling, fixtures and test equipment for electronics assembly cells.
• Own PFMEAs, control plans and process validation for electronic assemblies.
• Lead root cause analysis on soldering, placement and harness defects.
• Take electronic assemblies from prototype into repeatable volume production.
• Provide DFM feedback into design reviews with Product Engineering.
• Write and maintain controlled work instructions for your area.
• Train and support operators against IPC workmanship standards.

Skills

SMT assembly process development

Through-hole assembly

Harness and cable assembly

IPC-A-610 IPC/WHMA-A-620

PCB assembly support

Root cause analysis

ESD control programmes

AOI

CAD

ERP/MES and PLM

Tools

Tooling & fixtures selection

Job description

Are you ready to revolutionise the world with TEKEVER?

At TEKEVER, we lead innovation in Europe as the European leader in unmanned technology, where cutting‑edge advancements meet unparalleled innovation.

Digital | Defence | Security | Space

We operate across four strategic areas, combining artificial intelligence, systems engineering, data science, and aerospace technology to tackle global challenges — from protecting people and critical infrastructure to exploring space.

We offer a unique surveillance‑as‑a‑service solution that delivers real‑time intelligence, enhancing maritime safety and saving lives. Our products and services support strategic and operational decisions in the most demanding environments — whether at sea, on land, in space, or in cyberspace.

Become part of a dynamic, multidisciplinary, and mission‑driven team that is transforming maritime surveillance and redefining global safety standards.

At TEKEVER, our mission is to provide limitless support through mission‑oriented game‑changers, delivering the right information at the right time to empower critical decision‑making.

If you're passionate about technology and eager to shape the future — TEKEVER is the place for you.

Mission:

This is a rare opportunity to join a high‑growth Defence manufacturer at the point of standing up its UK production capability. As Senior Manufacturing Engineer, you will be one of the first engineers on the ground in Swindon and will be a driving force in shaping the processes, standards and ways of working that every aircraft built in the UK will depend on.

You will own the technical definition and continuous improvement of manufacturing processes for the AR3, AR3 EVO & AR5 platforms, from raw material through to flight‑ready aircraft. A significant early focus will be supporting the structured transfer of established build processes from TEKEVER's Portugal site into the Swindon facility through capturing, validating and translating existing knowledge into a controlled, UK‑based production system.

You will spend the majority of your time on the shop floor. You will be the technical authority for your area working directly with operators and technicians, resolving production issues, leading improvement projects and driving the standard of everything your area produces. You will be the bridge between Product Engineering, Production, Quality and Supply Chain.

You will act as a technical leader within the Manufacturing Engineering function, driving manufacturing excellence, influencing cross‑functional decision‑making and elevating engineering standards through expertise, judgement and execution.

What will be your responsibilities:

• Design, document and prove out SMT, through‑hole and harness assembly processes.
• Apply IPC‑A‑610 and IPC/WHMA‑A‑620 acceptance criteria to real production decisions.
• Lead tech transfer of established electronics build processes from Portugal to Swindon.
• Specify tooling, fixtures and test equipment for electronics assembly cells.
• Own PFMEAs, control plans and process validation for electronic assemblies.
• Lead root cause analysis on soldering, placement and harness defects.
• Take electronic assemblies from prototype into repeatable volume production.
• Provide DFM feedback into design reviews with Product Engineering.
• Write and maintain controlled work instructions for your area.
• Train and support operators against IPC workmanship standards.

Profile and requirements:

Technical Skillset

• SMT assembly process development and optimisation.
• Through‑hole assembly processes.
• Harness and cable assembly manufacturing.
• IPC‑A‑610 and IPC/WHMA‑A‑620, applied hands‑on in production.
• PCB assembly support and industrialisation.
• Root cause analysis of assembly defects.
• ESD control programmes.
• Automated optical inspection (AOI), where relevant.
• CAD, ERP/MES and PLM systems.

Essential

• Hands‑on, production‑based SMT, through‑hole and harness experience.
• Applied use of IPC‑A‑610 and IPC/WHMA‑A‑620 in a production environment.
• Direct experience in an AS9100, ISO 9001 or equivalent production environment.
• NPI and industrialisation experience for electronic assemblies.
• Process validation and manufacturing documentation authorship.
• Eligible for UK SC clearance; BPSS eligible from day one.

Desirable

• Avionics or Defence electronics production.
• UAS electrical integration.
• MES or digital manufacturing systems experience.
• Conformal coating process experience.
• Relevant engineering qualification, or equivalent demonstrated experience.

What We Offer

• An excellent work environment and an opportunity to make a difference.
• Salary commensurate with level of experience.
• Company pension contribution matched up to 10%.
• 25 days annual holiday + 8 Bank holidays.
• Medical Insurance.
• Dental Insurance.
• Salary sacrifice initiatives (EV Scheme, Cycle 2 Work, Tech Scheme)
• Discretionary annual company bonus.

Pre-Employment Requirements

Employment offers may be contingent upon successful completion of a background check and reference verification, in accordance with applicable laws and company policy.

Equal Employment Opportunity

TEKEVER is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Do you want to know more about us ?

Visit our LinkedIn page at https://www.linkedin.com/company/tekever/