Senior New Product Introduction (NPI) Engineer

ARCA; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

ARCA in Cambridge is seeking an experienced NPI, Manufacturing or Mechanical Engineer to drive new product introductions from design through production. You will work closely with design and manufacturing teams to ensure robust, manufacturable products.

You’ll contribute to prototypes, testing, pilot production and process improvements, balancing quality, cost and delivery in a challenging environment.

Qualifications

• Must have proven experience in NPI, manufacturing engineering or a similar engineering role.
• Experience taking products from prototype through to production.
• Strong understanding of Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFMA).
• Good knowledge of mechanical manufacturing processes and materials.
• Experience with root-cause analysis and resolving production issues.
• Ability to balance quality, cost, delivery and manufacturability.
• Strong organisational and project management skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• A practical, data-driven and continuous-improvement mindset.

Responsibilities

• Lead NPI activities from design through to production release.
• Work closely with design engineering to ensure products are suitable for manufacture.
• Support prototype builds, testing, trials and pilot production.
• Develop manufacturing processes, tooling and assembly methods.
• Review materials, components, tolerances and manufacturing methods.
• Lead DFMA activities.
• Identify and resolve technical, manufacturing and production issues.
• Lead root-cause investigations and implement corrective actions.
• Create technical documentation, assembly instructions and process specifications.
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, quality, procurement and suppliers.
• Manage NPI priorities, timescales and technical deliverables.
• Support continuous improvement across products and manufacturing processes.
• Ensure products and processes meet quality, safety and regulatory requirements.

Skills

NPI experience

DFMA knowledge

Manufacturing processes

Root-cause analysis

Project management

Communication skills

Data-driven mindset

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

Location: Cambridge

Working Pattern: Hybrid

Package: Competitive salary + benefits

Arca Consulting is partnering with a highly specialist engineering business that designs and manufactures advanced mechanical machinery used in some of the world's most challenging environments.

This is not your typical NPI role.

You'll be working at the point where engineering meets manufacturing, helping take highly engineered machines from design and development through to production. Your work will play a key part in ensuring products are robust, manufacturable, reliable and ready to perform in demanding real-world conditions.

The Role

You will be responsible for:

• Leading and coordinating NPI activities from design through to production release.
• Working closely with design engineering to ensure products are suitable for manufacture.
• Supporting prototype builds, testing, trials and pilot production.
• Developing and improving manufacturing processes, tooling and assembly methods.
• Reviewing materials, components, tolerances and manufacturing methods.
• Leading Design for Manufacture (DFM) activities.
• Identifying and resolving technical, manufacturing and production issues.
• Leading root-cause investigations and implementing effective corrective actions.
• Creating technical documentation, assembly instructions and process specifications.
• Working closely with engineering, manufacturing, quality, procurement and suppliers.
• Managing NPI priorities, timescales and technical deliverables.
• Supporting continuous improvement across products and manufacturing processes.
• Ensuring products and processes meet relevant quality, safety and regulatory requirements.

About You

We're looking for an experienced NPI, Manufacturing or Mechanical Engineer with:

• Proven experience in NPI, manufacturing engineering or a similar engineering role.
• Experience taking products from prototype through to production.
• Strong understanding of Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFMA).
• Good knowledge of mechanical manufacturing processes and materials.
• Experience with root-cause analysis and resolving production issues.
• The ability to balance quality, cost, delivery and manufacturability.
• Strong organisational and project management skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• A practical, data-driven and continuous-improvement mindset.
• An engineering degree or equivalent qualification/experience.

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced NPI or Manufacturing Engineer to take ownership of new product introduction within a specialist engineering environment, working closely with design and manufacturing teams to turn innovative designs into robust, production-ready products.

You’ll have the opportunity to influence how products are manufactured, improve processes and play a key role in taking projects from concept through to successful production.

Please note: Applicants must have full and unrestricted right to work in the UK. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship, and candidates requiring sponsorship or relying on a Graduate visa cannot be considered.