Applications Engineering Manager

Location: Chasetown

Applications Engineering Manager Advanced Manufacturing & Defence Dorking up to £80,000 plus package Great engineering. Real influence. An opportunity to build something. Are you an experienced manufacturing engineer who thrives on solving complex engineering challenges, enjoys working directly with customers and wants to have a bigger impact than your current role allows? This is an opportunity to put your technical expertise at the heart of a growing precision engineering business, combining hands-on engineering knowledge with customer engagement, technical leadership and business development.

We're looking for a highly capable engineer who understands how to turn challenging customer requirements into practical, manufacturable and commercially competitive solutions. Someone who can move confidently between engineering drawings, manufacturing processes, customer discussions and the shop floor - bringing people together to make things happen. With an ambitious growth strategy and an expanding focus on the UK defence sector, this is a chance to play a pivotal role in developing new markets, building customer relationships and influencing the future direction of the business.

This is more than an engineering position. It's an opportunity to shape a growing business, take real ownership and see the results of your contribution. The opportunity You'll work closely with customers and the senior leadership team, acting as the technical link between customer requirements and the engineering and manufacturing capabilities of the business. From precision CNC-machined components and fabricated assemblies to complex electromechanical systems, you'll help develop solutions to demanding engineering challenges, ensuring designs and proposals are technically sound, manufacturable and commercially viable.

A key part of the role will be helping establish and grow the business's presence within UK defence supply chains, while continuing to develop opportunities across advanced manufacturing and existing customer markets. You'll have the freedom to influence technical decisions, identify new opportunities and work collaboratively with engineering, production and purchasing teams. In a growing, owner-managed SME, your contribution won't disappear into layers of management - you'll have direct access to decision-makers and the opportunity to make a visible difference.

What you'll be doing Solve real engineering challenges:
Review technical specifications, engineering drawings, CAD models and customer requirements, identifying practical solutions and manufacturing opportunities. Apply your manufacturing expertise:
Lead design-for-manufacture reviews and assess CNC machining, fabrication, sheet metal processes, precision assembly and production methods. Become a trusted technical partner:
Build strong customer relationships, understand their challenges and provide credible engineering advice throughout project development. Turn opportunities into solutions:
Work with engineering, production and purchasing to develop manufacturing strategies, evaluate technical risks and prepare competitive quotations and proposals. Help drive business growth:
Identify new opportunities, develop existing accounts and support the expansion into defence and other advanced manufacturing markets. Shape the future:
Contribute to defence supply-chain engagement, including relevant Make UK Defence and JOSCAR initiatives, while helping develop the business's longer-term capabilities and customer base. What we're looking for You'll be an accomplished engineer from a precision engineering or advanced manufacturing environment, with the technical depth to understand complex manufacturing challenges and the confidence to engage with customers and influence decisions. You'll ideally bring: A degree, HND or equivalent qualification in Mechanical, Manufacturing or Production Engineering.

Extensive experience in precision engineering and manufacturing, with strong knowledge of CNC machining, fabrication, sheet metal and electromechanical assembly. The ability to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, CAD models and technical specifications. A solid understanding of manufacturing methods, process planning, design for manufacture and production constraints. Experience developing customer solutions, preparing quotations or technical proposals, and assessing cost, quality, risk and delivery.

Strong commercial awareness, excellent communication skills and a practical,…