Senior Process Engineer

Optima UK Inc Ltd; Kettering; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Optima UK Inc Ltd in Kettering is seeking a Senior Process Engineer to lead machining engineering, covering the full process from customer drawings and quotations through to CNC programming, prove-out and production readiness.

You will manage two Machine Shop Supervisors and collaborate with commercial, quality and maintenance teams. Immediate start with handover included.

Qualifications

• Proven machining process engineering experience.
• Experience quoting and estimating machined parts, including cycle times, tooling, fixtures and labour.
• Working knowledge of engineering drawings and GD&T.
• Detailed understanding of hydraulic and manual workholding and fixture design.
• Experience selecting cutting tools and working with suppliers on special tooling.
• Competence in 2D and 3D CAD/CAM software.
• Ability to write Fanuc-based ISO G-code programs manually and/or using CAM.
• Hands-on experience proving out CNC programs across different machine control systems.
• NPI and APQP experience, including timing plans, Control Plans and FMEAs.
• Experience in root cause analysis, 8D corrective actions, SPC, capability and interpreting CMM results.
• Experience managing or supervising a machine shop team.
• Right to work in the UK.

Responsibilities

• Prepare machining quotations, including cycle times, tooling, fixtures, labour and capacity analysis.
• Cost gauges, dedicated equipment and ancillary operations such as washing, pressure testing and painting.
• Interpret engineering drawings, specifications and GD&T requirements.
• Specify and procure hydraulic and manual workholding, fixtures, cutting tools and ancillary process equipment.
• Work with tooling suppliers to develop special-purpose, multi-function cutting tools.
• Produce tooling data, process layouts and drawings using 2D and 3D CAD/CAM software.
• Generate Fanuc-based ISO CNC programs manually and/or through CAM software, then prove out programs across different CNC control systems.
• Lead NPI and APQP activities, including timing plans, budgets, Control Plans, FMEAs and capability requirements.
• Resolve customer quality issues through root cause analysis and permanent 8D corrective actions.
• Interpret SPC capability results and CMM reports to improve cycle times, tool life, labour deployment and process capability.
• Support maintenance activities, repair costing and subcontractor liaison, and prepare capital investment recommendations.

Skills

Machining process engineering

Estimating machining parts

GD&T knowledge

2D/3D CAD/CAM

Fanuc ISO G-code programming

NPI/APQP

Root cause analysis/8D

Supervising machine shop team

Right to work in the UK

Tools

CAD/CAM software

Fanuc-based CNC programming

Job description

Senior Process Engineer

Location: Kettering

Salary: £55,000-£60,000

Hours: Monday to Friday, 42.5-45 hours per week

The Opportunity

We are recruiting for a Senior Process Engineer to take the technical lead for machining within an established manufacturing business.

This is a hands-on role covering the full process from customer drawings and quotations through to CNC programming, prove-out and stable production. You will manage two Machine Shop Supervisors and work closely with commercial, quality and maintenance teams.

An immediate start is available, with a handover period from the current post-holder.

The Role

Reporting to the Managing Director and Operations Director, you will lead machining engineering, deliver new projects and improve existing processes, quality and productivity.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Prepare machining quotations, including cycle times, tooling, fixtures, labour requirements and capacity analysis.
• Cost gauges, dedicated equipment and ancillary operations such as washing, pressure testing and painting.
• Interpret engineering drawings, specifications and GD&T requirements.
• Specify and procure hydraulic and manual workholding, fixtures, cutting tools and ancillary process equipment.
• Work with tooling suppliers to develop special-purpose, multi-function cutting tools.
• Produce tooling data, process layouts and drawings using 2D and 3D CAD/CAM software.
• Generate Fanuc-based ISO CNC programs manually and/or through CAM software, then prove out programs across different CNC control systems.
• Lead NPI and APQP activities, including timing plans, budgets, Control Plans, FMEAs and capability requirements.
• Resolve customer quality issues through root cause analysis and permanent 8D corrective actions.
• Interpret SPC capability results and CMM reports to improve cycle times, tool life, labour deployment and process capability.
• Support maintenance activities, repair costing and subcontractor liaison, and prepare capital investment recommendations.

Candidate Requirements

Essential

• Proven machining process engineering experience. A quality-only or maintenance-only background will not meet the requirements of this role.
• Experience quoting and estimating machined parts, including cycle times, tooling, fixtures and labour.
• Working knowledge of engineering drawings and GD&T.
• Detailed understanding of hydraulic and manual workholding and fixture design.
• Experience selecting cutting tools and working with suppliers on special tooling.
• Competence in 2D and 3D CAD/CAM software.
• Ability to write Fanuc-based ISO G-code programs manually and/or using CAM.
• Hands-on experience proving out CNC programs across different machine control systems.
• NPI and APQP experience, including timing plans, Control Plans and FMEAs.
• Experience in root cause analysis, 8D corrective actions, SPC, capability and interpreting CMM results.
• Experience managing or supervising a machine shop team.
• Right to work in the UK.

Desirable

• Experience with aluminium castings, ideally low-pressure.
• Knowledge of washing, pressure testing and assembly equipment specification.
• Experience costing repairs and working with maintenance subcontractors.
• Exposure to capital investment recommendations and budgets.
• Full UK driving licence.