Manufacturing Engineer – Defence Fabrication

Manufacturing Engineer – Defence Fabrication North West | £50,000 | Permanent We're recruiting a Manufacturing Engineer for a long-established UK defence engineering specialist at their North West Engineering Centre of Excellence. You'll be supporting fabrication and heavy manufacturing operations, focusing on process improvement, build quality, and production efficiency for large-scale welded and fabricated assemblies used in military applications. What you'll be doing: Optimising and standardising manufacturing processes for complex welded and fabricated assemblies Identifying opportunities to reduce waste, improve cycle times, and enhance tooling/fixture effectiveness Analysing quality trends and driving corrective and preventive actions Developing and managing structured improvement plans with measurable outcomes Leading cross-functional teams to embed lean practices and improve cost/delivery performance Supporting NPI activity with focus on Design for Manufacturability (DFM) in fabrication and welding Promoting continuous improvement using structured problem-solving tools (8D, CAPA) Ensuring compliance with EHS, manufacturing, and quality standards across fabrication processes Implementing containment and long-term corrective actions for process deviations What you need: HND, Higher/Advanced Apprenticeship, or Degree in Manufacturing or Mechanical Engineering Proven manufacturing engineering background in technical, industrial, or heavy fabrication environment Experience with large-scale fabrications, welding processes, or heavy manufacturing flows Practical knowledge of lean tools and continuous improvement methodologies Strong problem-solving skills with hands-on, shop-floor-led approach Experience with SAP or other ERP systems (training available) Clear communicator able to collaborate across operational and engineering teams What's on offer: £50,000 per annum 4% employee / 7% employer pension Half-day Fridays Life assurance and enhanced sick pay (rising with service) Wellbeing initiatives and Employee Assistance Programme Long service awards and additional holidays On-site parking and EV charging Cycle to Work Scheme Modern, collaborative working environment This is a permanent position with a long-established defence engineering specialist delivering highly engineered mechanical and structural systems for demanding military environments. Data Protection Notice: By applying for this position, you consent to Recruit Engineering processing and storing your personal data, including your CV, contact details, and any other relevant information, for the purpose of providing work-finding services. This consent includes forwarding your details to our clients and storing your information on our recruitment software database. Your consent will last for two years, and you can withdraw it at any time by contacting us in writing or via email