Manufacturing Engineer

Location: Buckinghamshire
Job Specification:
Manufacturing Engineer (4-6 Month Contract)

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Manufacturing Engineer to lead the industrialisation and readiness activities for a portfolio of 15 products. This role will focus on defining production processes, preparing manufacturing documentation, ensuring production readiness, and coordinating material availability. The ideal candidate will be proactive, structured, and able to support both engineering and production teams through prototype and early-build phases.

Key Responsibilities

Production Planning & Industrialisation

Develop and define a full production plan for a portfolio of 15 products.

Create clear and comprehensive work instructions suitable for the production environment.

Establish and document standard process times for each operation.

Launch products into the ERP system, ensuring accurate and complete master data.

Chair Production Readiness Reviews (PRRs) for each product to ensure build preparedness.

Provide hands-on support to the production team during build and early manufacturing runs.

Identify, define, and coordinate requirements for tooling, jigs, fixtures, and equipment.

Define and document quality requirements for each product, ensuring alignment with customer expectations.

Material Planning & Supply Chain Coordination

Collaborate with an outsourced purchasing buyer to manage and plan incoming materials.

Align incoming material availability against the production schedule to ensure customer delivery targets are met.

Proactively highlight material gaps and risks, and work with purchasing to implement mitigation plans.

Skills & Experience Required

Proven experience as a Manufacturing Engineer, Production Engineer, or similar role.

Strong background in process definition, work instructions, and production documentation.

Experience working with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Epicor, IFS, etc.).

Ability to define process times, and map processes into repeatable workflows.

Experience supporting prototype, low-volume, or NPI (New Product Introduction) builds.

Strong understanding of tooling, manufacturing quality, and production readiness.

Practical knowledge of material planning and how it integrates with production scheduling.

Excellent communication skills and ability to lead cross-functional reviews.

Proactive, organised, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities.

Desirable (Not Essential)

Experience in electronics, RF, or mechanical assembly environments.

Background in low-volume or non-production run manufacturing.

Familiar with Lean manufacturing principles