Process Manager - Heat Treatment

Location: [Letchworth]
Salary: Up to £45,000 per annum
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm (40 hours per week)
Holidays: 25 Days + Bank Holidays
Benefits: Pension, Life Assurance, Health Benefits, Overtime Available

We are seeking an experienced Process Manager - Heat Treatment to join a well-established aerospace manufacturing business. This is an excellent opportunity for an engineering professional with a background in heat treatment or vacuum thermal processing to take ownership of a specialist department and play a key role in maintaining quality, efficiency, and compliance with aerospace standards.

Reporting into senior management, you will oversee all aspects of the heat treatment process, including production planning, material control, process compliance, metallurgical inspections, and team leadership.

• Manage the day-to-day operation of the Heat Treatment Department.
• Lead and develop a team of 5 employees, including 2 Team Leaders.
• Plan and coordinate production schedules to ensure customer delivery requirements are met.
• Order and manage materials in line with production requirements.
• Ensure compliance with aerospace specifications, customer requirements, and industry standards.
• Oversee vacuum heat treatment, vacuum furnace operations, brazing, and thermal processing activities.
• Conduct and review metallurgical inspections and process documentation.
• Monitor process performance and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure all processing equipment is maintained, calibrated, and operating effectively.
• Work closely with Quality, Production, and Engineering teams to resolve technical issues.
• Maintain high standards of health, safety, and environmental compliance.

• Previous experience within a Heat Treatment or Vacuum Heat Treatment environment.
• Strong understanding of thermal processing, vacuum furnaces, and brazing processes.
• Process Engineering background.
• Degree qualified in Engineering or a related discipline.
• Experience managing people and leading teams.
• Knowledge of aerospace manufacturing standards and specifications.
• Strong planning, organisational, and problem-solving skills.

• Experience within aerospace manufacturing.
• Metallurgical inspection experience.
• Continuous improvement or lean manufacturing experience.

• Salary up to £45,000.
• Overtime opportunities available.
• Pension scheme.
• Life assurance.
• Health benefits package.
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays.
• Day shift position (Monday to Friday).
• Long-term career progression opportunities.

This is an excellent opportunity for a Heat Treatment or Process Engineering professional looking to take the next step into a management position within a growing aerospace manufacturing environment.