Senior Manufacturing Process Engineer - NPI / Indust...

Senior Manufacturing Process Engineer – NPI / Industrialisation Ampthill, Bedfordshire 4 Day Week (Mon–Thurs) | On-site £50,000 – £55,000 + Benefits SC Required (DV Eligible) We are working in partnership with a leading UK defence organisation to recruit a Senior Manufacturing Process Engineer to support New Product Introduction (NPI) and industrialisation activities within a highly specialised engineering environment. This is an excellent opportunity for a proactive manufacturing professional who thrives on setting up processes, defining production capability, and owning industrialisation activities from concept through to full-rate production. The Opportunity This position sits within a Special Projects environment and will play a critical role in bridging design and production. You will represent Production Operations within design forums and take ownership of manufacturing readiness. This is not a hands-on CNC role — it is a planning, industrialisation, and process development position focused on: * Setting up new workshops / assembly lines * Developing manufacturing methods and build documentation * Creating and managing BOMs and routings in SAP * Defining sequences of operation and production flow * Identifying tooling and fixturing requirements * Supporting facility layout and line configuration * Driving lean improvements and right-first-time quality You will operate with a high degree of autonomy and be trusted to lead your workstream with minimal supervision. What We’re Looking For We’re keen to speak with candidates who have: * Strong experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI) * A background in complex mechanical assembly environments * Experience developing detailed manufacturing process documentation * Solid understanding of MRP systems and SAP (or similar ERP platforms) * Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing / Six Sigma principles * Experience influencing design teams from a production perspective Candidates from aerospace, defence, automotive Tier 1, or other high-value manufacturing sectors are particularly encouraged to apply. Clearance Requirements * Candidates must hold active SC clearance or be eligible to obtain it. * If your SC has lapsed, we would still welcome your application, provided you are eligible for reinstatement. The role will require eligibility for DV clearance in due course. Why This Role? * 4-day working week (Mon–Thursday) * Genuine end-to-end lifecycle involvement * Opportunity to shape production capability in a growing special projects area * Strong stability and long-term programme visibility * Clear pathway for progression within manufacturing and operations engineering If you are an experienced Manufacturing / Process Engineer with a strong NPI background and are looking for a role where you can truly own industrialisation activities, please apply or contact us for a confidential discussion