Manufacturing Engineer

  • Matchtech
  • Basildon, Essex
  • Jan 05, 2026
Contractor Government

Job Description

Our client, an Aerospace and Defence supplier is looking for Manufacturing Engineers to join them on a contract basis at their site in Basildon.

  • Due to the nature of the role, applicants must be willing to undergo basic security checks if successful.
  • 56.50 p/h Umbrella, inside IR35.
  • 12 month initial contract.
  • Onsite in Basildon.

What you'll do as a Manufacturing Engineer

In this role, you will be responsible for or developing robust solutions to ensure the smooth transition of our new products from design into production. You will be expected to plan and deliver your own work, across medium term planning horizons and provide complex technical advice to both internal and external customers.

Typical Accountabilities & activities will include:

  • Developing manufacturing processes by studying product requirements; researching, designing, modifying, and testing manufacturing methods and equipment; understanding feedback from operators, conferring with equipment vendors or external suppliers
  • To prepare for and organise Manufacturing Maturity Reviews, maintain governance through the Lifecycle Management process and create / contribute / review and/or lead Manufacturing Plans
  • Provide manufacturing decision-making information with resolution proposals by:
    • Reviewing production schedules; reviewing production labour and material costs; estimating future requirements
    • Prepare product and process reports by collecting, analysing, and summarizing information and trends
  • Ability to resolve complex product and/or production issues & constraints (relieving bottlenecks) on shop floor reacting efficiently to escalation from manufacturing teams
  • Improve manufacturing efficiency by capacity analysis, simulation planning workflow, space requirements, and equipment layout
  • Review manufacturing documentation, can include input to process specific risk assessments, COSHH data, technical reports, specification
  • Assure product and process quality by designing methods; validation/verification of process capabilities; establishing standards; confirming manufacturing processes
  • Contribute to failure investigations to know problem-solving techniques (e.g. 8D)
  • Assure manufacturing data i.e. routings, production plans, control plans and electronic work instructions
  • Identifying continuous improvement activities to develop skills and competencies within Manufacturing Engineering
  • Complete improvement and development projects by training and interacting with the organisations' manufacturing engineer community
  • Promoting a culture of best practice sharing and knowledge exploitation
  • Mentor, coach and develop more junior members of the team in order to develop overall capability
  • Providing domain experience in support of customer and user engagement and product road maps
  • Maintain product and company reputation by complying with government regulations

What we need from you

  • Degree in relevant engineering discipline or equivalent experience in role.
  • In depth understanding of manufacturing processes and principles
  • Ability to influence and negotiate with others using data and analysis to support line of reasoning
  • A detailed understanding of the operational framework and business processes
  • An understanding of cross functional / commercial business processes and their own impact
  • Ability to take ownership of a work package; planning and scheduling own workload and the work of others
  • Operational understanding of project work and how the work of the team impacts upon other project activities
  • Demonstrated knowledge and experience of multiple phases of the Product Life Cycle and the associated processes
  • Experience of peer reviewing the work of others inside a product team and within a sub Engineering Unit and ensuring the resulting actions are implemented
  • Demonstrated knowledge of the risk / reward process associated with engineering activity informing the activities of a product team and own sub-engineering unit
  • Ability to communicate concepts in a non-technical way
  • Confidence and ability to challenge / respond to technical / process issues
  • Ability to interact effectively with customers and suppliers
  • Been involved in capability and / or process development, demonstrating an ability to implement a change to working practices

It would be nice if you had

  • Experience developing manufacturing capability and understanding of Industry 4.0 / Smart factory principles