Manufacturing Engineer – Heavy Fabrication

Manufacturing Engineer – Heavy Fabrication

North West England | £50,000 | Permanent

A specialist defence engineering manufacturer is looking to recruit a Manufacturing Engineer to support heavy fabrication operations at its North West site. The role sits within a high‑integrity engineering environment, focused on large welded and fabricated structures used on military programmes.

You’ll work closely with production and engineering teams to improve build quality, efficiency and process consistency across complex fabrication and welding activities.

The role

This position is hands‑on and shop‑floor focused, with responsibility for improving how large fabrications are built and controlled. Key responsibilities include:

• Reviewing, optimising and standardising manufacturing processes for welded and fabricated assemblies
• Identifying opportunities to reduce waste, improve cycle times and improve tooling and fixture effectiveness
• Analysing quality data and leading corrective and preventive actions
• Developing and managing structured improvement plans with clear, measurable outcomes
• Leading cross‑functional improvement activities to improve cost, quality and delivery
• Supporting NPI activity with a strong focus on Design for Manufacture in fabrication and welding
• Applying structured problem‑solving techniques such as 8D and CAPA
• Ensuring fabrication processes comply with EHS, manufacturing and quality standards
• Implementing short‑term containment and longer‑term corrective actions for process issues

What you’ll need

• HND, higher or advanced apprenticeship, or degree in Manufacturing or Mechanical Engineering
• Proven experience in a manufacturing engineering role within a heavy fabrication or industrial environment
• Background working with large welded structures or complex fabrication processes
• Practical experience applying lean and continuous improvement methods
• Strong problem‑solving skills with a hands‑on, shop‑floor‑led approach
• Clear communicator, comfortable working across manufacturing, quality and engineering teams
• Experience with ERP systems such as SAP is beneficial, but not essential

What’s on offer

• £50,000 per annum
• Pension: 4 percent employee, 7 percent employer contribution
• Half‑day Fridays
• Life assurance and enhanced sick pay, increasing with service
• Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing support
• Long‑service awards and additional holiday
• Cycle‑to‑work scheme
• Free on‑site parking and EV charging
• Modern, collaborative engineering environment

This is a permanent role within a respected defence engineering business delivering complex mechanical and structural systems for demanding applications.

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