Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Continuous Improvement; CI

Senior Manufacturing Engineer — Continuous Improvement

Location:

RG7 4PR
& RG30 3RR
, situated between Reading and Basingstoke, with free onsite parking.

Package: £49,480 – £55,000 + allowance, commensurate with experience.

Working pattern: AWE operates a 9‑day fortnight. Flexible working requests are considered so your schedule can fit your lifestyle.

The Senior Manufacturing Engineer will support and improve AWE’s manufacturing systems used in the deterrent programme through continuous improvement (CI) initiatives. The role is primarily on‑site, with limited opportunities for remote work due to the classified nature of the work.

• Collaborate with design, technical, and operations teams to identify, develop, and implement innovative ways of working.
• Lead CI activities to support production operations, driving efficiencies and quality within a highly regulated environment.
• Apply Lean manufacturing techniques, Value Stream Mapping, Statistical Process Control, and other continuous improvement tools to optimise workflows.
• Manage non‑conformance, sustain tooling, and drive implementation of best practices across the supply chain.
• Develop, maintain, and validate process documentation, including Route Cards, Technical Instructions, and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Drive and manage engineering change and transformation projects within manufacturing settings.
• Support and mentor line management, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and safety.

• Extensive experience in a manufacturing or operational environment, supporting production and delivering efficiencies.
• Proficiency in Lean Manufacturing techniques, Value Stream Mapping, Statistical Process Control, and other CI tools.
• Knowledge of PFMEAs, control plans, root cause analysis, A3 problem‑solving, and 5‑whys.
• Experience with MRP/ERP systems for production support, inventory management, and business data generation.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Leadership experience – managing teams and driving initiatives to completion.
• Experience with route card creation, technical instruction development, and SOP creation.
• Understanding of configuration management and digital manufacturing tools.

• Excellent interpersonal and team‑building abilities.
• Strong leadership capabilities.
• Effective stakeholder engagement.
• Clear, concise communication.

• 9‑day working fortnight: every other Friday off plus 270 hours of annual leave.
• Market‑leading contributory pension scheme with a payout between 9% and 13% of pensionable pay.
• Family‑friendly policies: 39 weeks full‑pay maternity leave and 4 weeks full‑pay paternity leave.
• Professional development funding and professional body membership support.
• Employee assistance and occupational health services.
• Life assurance of 4× annual salary.
• Discounts on a wide range of everyday spending.
• Special leave policy for volunteering, public service, and caregiving.

Applicants must be British citizens, have resided in the UK for the required period for security clearance, and be willing to travel within the UK and overseas as required. A warrant for security clearance will be secured by AWE for the selected candidate.