Production Engineering Manager

Company Profile

Location: Waterbeach, UK

Department: R&D – Production Engineering

Reports to: Engineering Manager

Type: Full-time, Permanent

Company Profile

Thermoteknix Systems Ltd, founded in 1982 and based in Cambridge, is a world leader in thermal imaging, night vision, and augmented reality systems. Our award‑winning technologies are trusted by defence, security, and industrial customers in over 70 countries. With in‑house R&D, cutting‑edge innovation, and a global reputation for quality, we design and manufacture solutions that perform in the toughest environments.

Thermoteknix is establishing a new Production Engineering team within R&D to transition products from development into robust, scalable manufacturing by performing hands‑on technical engineering.

The Production Engineering Manager will lead and develop this new cross‑disciplinary function, ensuring seamless transfer of products from R&D into repeatable, compliant and cost‑effective production. He/she will deliver efficient, reliable and quality‑focused manufacture.

This role provides strategic and operational leadership across electronics, mechanical, and software production engineering. The manager will define standards, processes and tools for New Product Introduction (NPI), production test, automation, documentation control and continuous improvement – ensuring products are production‑ready, scalable, and supportable throughout their lifecycle.

• Build, lead and develop a high‑performing Production Engineering team covering electronics, mechanical and software disciplines.
• Define the structure, responsibilities, standards and best practices for the Production Engineering function.
• Provide technical oversight and mentorship across all production engineering activities.
• Set objectives, KPIs and performance expectations aligned with company goals.
• Foster a collaborative, solutions‑focused and continuous improvement culture.

• Own the structured transfer of products from R&D into engineering and manufacturing.
• Establish and govern the NPI framework to ensure readiness for:
  • Assembly
  • Test
  • Calibration
  • Programming
  • Scale‑up
• Ensure Design for Manufacture (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA) and Design for Test (DFT) principles are embedded early in development.
• Chair production readiness reviews and sign off manufacturing release criteria.
• Ensure BOMs, tooling, test systems, documentation and processes are in place prior to production launch.

• Oversee development of:
  • Electronic test strategies and ATE solutions
  • Mechanical fixtures, jigs and tooling
  • Automated software test and programming systems
• Ensure robust end‑of‑line testing, calibration processes and configuration control.
• Standardise production test architecture, traceability and data capture.
• Ensure secure and repeatable firmware/software programming processes.

• Drive manufacturing efficiency, yield improvement, cost reduction and throughput optimisation.
• Establish structured root cause and corrective action methodologies (e.g., 8D, FMEA, SPC).
• Implement lean manufacturing principles within production engineering activities.
• Ensure systematic feedback loops from production into design engineering.
• Identify automation opportunities to improve repeatability and reduce manual risk.

• Provide escalation‑level technical leadership for complex production issues.
• Oversee resolution of electronic, mechanical and software‑related manufacturing problems.
• Ensure effective handling of non‑conformance, concessions, CAPA and quality investigations.
• Maintain strong collaboration with Quality and Operations to protect delivery and product integrity.

• Establish clear standards for:
  • Work instructions
  • Test procedures
  • Programming instructions
  • Tooling documentation
  • Calibration processes
• Ensure robust configuration management and engineering change control (ECN) processes.
• Maintain traceability of hardware and software versions through the…