Process Engineer

Process Engineer – Manufacturing / Electronics / SMT

Location: Chippenham, Wiltshire
Contract: Minimum 6 Months
Rate: £20.00 – £25.00 per hour, depending on experience
Hours: Full-time

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Process Engineer to join a well-established manufacturing business based in Chippenham on a minimum six-month contract.

This is an excellent opportunity for a Process Engineer with experience within electronics manufacturing and SMT production who also has the ability and interest to work across a much broader manufacturing environment.

Our client is currently implementing and rolling out a new Manufacturing Execution System (MES) across its site. As part of this programme, manufacturing processes across a number of different departments need to be reviewed, documented, updated and standardised before being collated and uploaded into the new system.

The successful candidate will therefore spend significant time working directly with production teams, engineers, technicians and other departmental stakeholders to understand how processes are currently performed and translate these into clear, accurate and controlled manufacturing documentation.

Although electronics and SMT experience is an important requirement for the position, this is not solely an SMT or electronics-based role. The Process Engineer will work across multiple areas of the manufacturing operation and must be comfortable understanding and documenting processes outside their immediate technical specialism.

Key Responsibilities

Review existing manufacturing processes, procedures and work instructions across the site.

Write and develop new manufacturing processes and work instructions where documentation is incomplete or does not currently exist.

Work directly with operators, technicians, engineers and supervisors to understand how manufacturing processes are performed in practice.

Observe production activities on the shop floor and translate these into clear, structured and practical documentation.

Collate existing process information from different departments and bring this into a consistent format.

Identify gaps, inconsistencies, duplication and outdated information within existing manufacturing documentation.

Support the standardisation of manufacturing processes and documentation across the site.

Prepare processes and associated documentation for migration and upload into the new MES.

Work alongside the MES implementation/project team to ensure process information is structured appropriately for the system.

Review processes following migration to ensure information has been transferred accurately and remains practical for manufacturing teams.

Support testing, validation and ongoing improvements during the MES rollout.

Apply knowledge of electronics and SMT manufacturing when reviewing relevant production areas and processes.

Work across wider manufacturing, assembly and operational departments outside of electronics.

Support process improvement and identify opportunities to improve clarity, repeatability and consistency within manufacturing operations.

Candidate Requirements

We are looking for candidates with previous experience as a Process Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Production Engineer or similar within a manufacturing environment.

You will ideally be able to demonstrate:

Strong experience of writing and reviewing manufacturing processes, SOPs and work instructions.

Previous experience within an electronics manufacturing environment.

Practical knowledge of SMT manufacturing and SMT production lines.

An understanding of processes such as component preparation, machine setup, pick-and-place, solder paste application, reflow and inspection.

Experience working directly with manufacturing and production teams.

The ability to observe a manufacturing process and translate it into clear and usable documentation.

Strong technical writing and documentation skills.

An understanding of process control, document control and revision management.

The ability to interpret technical information, drawings and manufacturing documentation.

Confidence working with engineers, technicians, operators and production management.

The ability to work across different manufacturing disciplines rather than remaining solely within an electronics environment.

A practical and hands-on approach, with a willingness to spend time on the shop floor understanding how processes actually operate.

Desirable Experience

Previous experience with any of the following would be particularly beneficial:

Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)

MES implementation or rollout projects

ERP/MRP manufacturing systems

SMT production equipment

PCB and electronics assembly

Electronic inspection and testing

Mechanical or electromechanical manufacturing

Process mapping

Lean Manufacturing / Continuous Improvement

SOP and work instruction development

Manufacturing change control

Document or configuration management systems

The Person

This position would suit someone who combines a good technical understanding of manufacturing with particularly strong process, documentation and communication skills.

You will not be expected to be the technical expert in every manufacturing process on site. Instead, you will need the ability to work collaboratively with the people who are.

A key part of the role will involve speaking with experienced production employees, understanding the knowledge they hold, observing how work is actually carried out and converting that information into clear, controlled and repeatable manufacturing processes.

This makes the role particularly suitable for a Process Engineer who enjoys being within the manufacturing environment, engaging with production teams and understanding how things are made, rather than spending the majority of their time behind a desk.

Additional Information

Contract: Minimum 6 months
Rate: £20.00 – £25.00 per hour, depending on experience
Location: Chippenham, Wiltshire

Our client is unable to offer sponsorship for this position. Applicants must therefore already have the right to work in the UK without requiring current or future sponsorship.

We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

This vacancy is being advertised by a recruitment agency acting as an Employment Business in relation to this contract vacancy.