Lead Manufacturing Engineer

Lead Manufacturing Engineer - South Birmingham - Aerospace

Are you a Manufacturing Engineering leader ready to make a tangible impact in a high-performance aerospace environment?

This is a senior, hands-on leadership role where you will take ownership of manufacturing engineering activities within a business unit, driving process excellence, supporting new product industrialisation, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement.

You will play a pivotal role in shaping how complex aerospace components are manufactured, ensuring processes are robust, compliant, efficient, and future-ready.

The Opportunity

As the Lead Mnaufacturing Engineer, you will lead and prioritise engineering activity across the operation, working closely with production, quality, supply chain, and design teams. Your expertise will ensure manufacturing processes meet the highest aerospace standards while delivering measurable improvements in quality, cost, and delivery.

This role offers genuine influence, autonomy, and the chance to leave a lasting legacy within a growing aerospace manufacturing business

Key Responsibilities

* Lead and coordinate all manufacturing engineering activities within the business unit

* Develop, analyse, and optimise manufacturing processes to improve quality, efficiency, and cost

* Drive strong process control and capability across operations (Cp / Cpk)

* Champion Lean Manufacturing tools including kaizen, value stream mapping, time studies, and line balancing

* Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, quality, and waste reduction

* Support New Product Introduction (NPI) and industrialisation activities from concept through to production

* Apply APQP methodology and lead PPAP activities to ensure production readiness

* Troubleshoot production issues using structured problem-solving techniques (8D, DMAIC)

* Develop and maintain routings, SOPs, and work instructions

* Monitor and improve KPIs including yield, scrap, and throughput

You will bring:

* Proven engineering leadership experience within a cross-functional industrial setting

* Experience in aerospace or similarly regulated manufacturing

* Degree or HND in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering or equivalent experience.

* Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies

* Demonstrable experience with APQP, PPAP, FMEA, and structured problem-solving

* Excellent understanding of GD&T and complex engineering drawings

* Familiarity with AS9100 and aerospace quality requirements

* Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills

* A proactive, improvement-driven mindset with high professional standards

What’s on Offer

* Competitive annual salary

* 33 Days Holiday (Inclisive of Bank Holidays)

* Pension contribution (3% employer, up to 10% employee)

* Perkbox employee benefits

* Stable, long-term role within a forward-thinking aerospace manufacturer