Production Engineer

Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire

Are you an experienced Production Engineer with a background in fabrication, welding or heavy engineering, ready to improve how complex steelwork is planned and delivered?

Our Barnsley fabrication facility is a key part of a leading UK engineering and construction contractor, providing in-house manufacturing capability for complex infrastructure projects.

The specialist workshop manufactures structural steel and bespoke engineered products, including railway and pedestrian footbridges, lift shafts and bridge components, with comprehensive fabrication, welding, assembly and finishing capabilities.

As the operation grows, we are looking for an experienced Production Engineer to strengthen manufacturing planning, coordination and performance across the facility.

In this pivotal role, you will connect the production, design, quality, procurement and project teams, translating detailed designs into safe, efficient and cost-effective manufacturing plans.

• Define production processes and sequences, setting target task times for each operation.
• Review drawings, specifications, bills of materials and contract requirements prior to release to production.
• Ensure production readiness through the timely provision of jigs, fixtures and associated tools & equipment.
• Prepare manufacturing work packs, route cards, cutting lists, material requisitions and job-specific production instructions, including estimated process times for each operation.
• Support production teams with technical queries relating to fabrication sequences, fit-up, dimensional control, distortion management, assembly methods and efficient production flow.
• Monitor material usage, labour allocation, subcontract expenditure and production progress throughout manufacture.
• Review labour efficiency with the production team and implement practical improvement measures.
• Investigate production delays, rework, process inefficiencies and cost overruns, identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions.
• Maintain accurate production and handover records for each project.
• Contribute to production, planning, project review and lessons‑learned meetings.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, waste reduction, process optimisation and cost control.
• Promote and support a strong health, safety and quality culture throughout the fabrication facility.

To succeed in this role, you will be:

• A proactive and organised individual with a structured approach to planning and problem‑solving.
• Comfortable working both on the shop floor and collaboratively with cross‑functional teams.
• An effective communicator, able to engage confidently with operatives, supervisors, managers, customers, suppliers and inspectors.
• Detail‑focused, with a strong commitment to safety, quality and right‑first‑time delivery.
• Able to manage multiple priorities and respond effectively to changing production and project requirements.
• Commercially aware, with an appreciation of the relationship between production performance, programme delivery and project costs.

• An engineering qualification such as an HNC/HND, degree, advanced apprenticeship or equivalent industry experience.
• Experience with in a steel fabrication, structural steelwork, heavy engineering or manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of fabrication and welding processes.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, fabrication details, bills of materials and technical specifications.
• Experience producing manufacturing documentation, route cards, work packs and production instructions.
• Experience using production data to assess performance and support reliable estimating.
• Underst…