Senior Injection Moulding Technician in Lutterworth

Senior Injection Moulding Technician
Location: South Leicestershire (commutable from Leicester, Rugby, Hinckley and Market Harborough)
Salary: £35,000 – £45,000 + [benefits]
Hours: Days
Type: Permanent

The role
Xia Engineering is recruiting a Senior Injection Moulding Technician for an established plastics manufacturer in South Leicestershire. This isn’t a role running the same tool for weeks at a time. The work is small-batch and varied, with lots of T0 trials on new tools, plus a large amount of insert moulding and overmoulding.

You’ll report to the Mould Shop Supervisor and be the go-to technical person on the shop floor. You’ll get new tools from first shot to a stable, validated process, handle frequent changeovers and keep quality right on short runs where there’s little room to fine-tune.

This day-shift role suits a technician who likes variety and a technical challenge, and who gets satisfaction from proving out a new tool.

What you’ll be doing

• Running T0 trials and mould sampling on new tools, developing robust processes and supporting process validation
• Setting up insert moulding and overmoulding jobs, including insert loading, positioning, and checks on bonding and encapsulation
• Making frequent tool and material changes on small-batch work, setting machines from zero to spec quickly and accurately
• Checking that material, masterbatch and inserts match each job, and using the correct jigs, fixtures and auxiliary equipment
• Carrying out first-off inspections and getting approval before production starts
• Leading troubleshooting on moulding defects and process problems, and optimising cycle times without affecting quality
• Finding and fixing material feed and drying issues
• Working closely with QC and Toolmakers on tool modifications, trial feedback and recurring problems
• Responding to machine alarms, finding the root cause and doing basic maintenance (oil, water flow, heater bands, air lines, filters, O-rings, sensors, hoses)
• Reporting cycle time and scrap variances, and keeping the work cell safe, clean and organised

What you’ll need

• At least 5 years’ experience setting and processing on injection moulding machines
• Hands-on experience of tool trials and sampling, from T0 through to process sign-off
• Experience of insert moulding and/or overmoulding
• Comfort with high-mix, low-volume work and frequent changeovers
• Strong process knowledge and a methodical approach to troubleshooting defects
• Close attention to detail and a solid awareness of health and safety

Nice to have

• Experience on Engel, Arburg or Sumitomo machines
• Experience with robotic handling or automation in moulding
• Knowledge of ISO 9001 or similar quality systems
• Scientific moulding or formal plastics processing training

What’s on offer

• £35,000 – £45,000, depending on experience
• Days, so no shifts or nights, although flexibility will be required.
• Varied, technically interesting work rather than repetitive production