Manufacturing Engineer - FTC

This is a 12 month fixed-term contract

About the Role

We are seeking a proactive and innovative Manufacturing Engineer to drive continuous improvement and sustainable, safe change across our manufacturing operations. In this hands-on role, you’ll identify and deliver innovative process enhancements, optimise flow and layout designs, and support the effective introduction of new technologies and product lines.

Your expertise will ensure seamless day-to-day operations — encompassing people, processes, products, and machinery — while developing opportunities to improve efficiency, quality, safety, and cost performance.

This role involves a 50/50 split between cleanroom and non-cleanroom environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide engineering support to manufacturing operations, troubleshooting issues and driving process improvements.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality, cycle time, cost reduction, and process enhancement using Lean, Six Sigma, and value engineering techniques.
• Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), technical specifications, and manufacturing documentation.
• Implement a robust training framework to ensure workforce competence and compliance across allocated manufacturing cells.
• Define and monitor key performance metrics to evaluate process effectiveness and drive accountability.
• Design, validate, and maintain efficient cell manufacturing layouts that support operational excellence.
• Conduct detailed data analysis and structured problem-solving (A3, 8D, DMAIC) to investigate and optimise manufacturing processes.
• Partner with Engineering and NPI teams to ensure product designs are manufacturable (DFx principles).
• Conduct risk assessments on new or modified equipment, processes, or procedures.
• Report project progress, risks, and budgets to management as required.
• Champion and lead change, driving cultural and operational improvements across the business.
• Take ownership of non-conformance resolution and corrective actions within allocated manufacturing areas.

Required Experience

Essential:

• 3–5 years’ experience in a manufacturing engineering role.
• Proven exposure to Lean Manufacturing, including VSM, A3, 8D, DMAIC, Six Sigma, SPC, and APQP.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret design and process capability data.
• Demonstrated experience writing work instructions, SOPs, and process flow documentation.
• Excellent IT proficiency, especially Microsoft Excel.
• Solid understanding of Health & Safety at Work legislation.
• Experience implementing 5S principles.

Desirable:

• Experience working in cleanroom environments.
• Background in fine mechanical assembly.
• Knowledge of TPM, OEE, capacity planning, and takt-based flow.
• Six Sigma Green Belt qualification.
• Experience with Gage R&R and SQL queries.
• Familiarity with optical fibre handling and fusion splicing.