Manufacturing Engineer – Continuous Improvement
Salary: £42,000 - £45,000
Location: Hull
Job Type: Permanent, 39 hours a week with flexible working between the hours of 6.30am – 5pm, 35 days holiday including stats
The Opportunity
Are you a Manufacturing Engineer who enjoys improving processes, solving problems and making things work better?
Our client is looking for a Manufacturing Engineer to join their team and play a key role in driving continuous improvement, process optimisation and manufacturing efficiency across the business.
This is a hands-on engineering role where you will have the opportunity to identify opportunities for improvement, investigate manufacturing issues, develop practical solutions and work closely with production teams to implement change.
The role would suit someone who enjoys being on the shop floor, getting involved in the detail and seeing the results of their improvements.
You don't need to have experience in our client's specific industry. We would be particularly interested in Manufacturing Engineers from sectors such as automotive, engineering, aerospace, FMCG, plastics, assembly or other structured manufacturing environments.
The Role
As Manufacturing Engineer, you will work closely with Production, Quality, Design and Supply Chain to improve manufacturing processes and support the business in achieving improvements in:
- Efficiency and productivity
- Quality and right-first-time performance
- Manufacturing costs
- Waste reduction
- Process reliability
- Health & safety
- Standardisation
- Production capacity
You will be encouraged to challenge existing processes, identify opportunities and take ownership of improvement projects from initial investigation through to implementation.
Key Responsibilities
- Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities across manufacturing operations.
- Analyse existing processes and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, quality, cost and productivity.
- Provide hands-on engineering support to production teams, resolving manufacturing and process issues.
- Investigate problems using root cause analysis and implement effective corrective and preventative actions.
- Develop and improve manufacturing processes, work instructions and standard operating procedures.
- Support Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Review production methods, workflows and layouts to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Support line balancing, capacity improvements and process optimisation.
- Develop and introduce tooling, fixtures, jigs and assembly aids where required.
- Work with Design Engineering to ensure products and processes are suitable for efficient manufacture and assembly.
- Support New Product Introduction (NPI), prototype builds, pilot builds and production launches.
- Identify opportunities to reduce waste, improve productivity and minimise manufacturing costs.
- Support quality improvement activities, including investigation of defects, non-conformances and warranty issues.
- Participate in risk assessments, including FMEA, and implement actions arising from them.
- Develop and maintain manufacturing documentation and standardised processes.
- Work collaboratively with Production, Quality, Design, Engineering and Supply Chain teams.
- Support the introduction of new processes, equipment and manufacturing methods.
- Train and support production colleagues when new or improved processes are introduced.
- Liaise with suppliers where necessary to support improvements in manufacturing processes or equipment.
- Promote safe working practices and identify opportunities to improve workplace safety.
What We're Looking For
We are looking for a practical, commercially aware and improvement-focused Manufacturing Engineer who enjoys making a difference.
You may currently be working as a:
- Manufacturing Engineer
- Production Engineer
- Process Engineer
- Industrial Engineer
- Continuous Improvement Engineer
- Manufacturing Improvement Engineer
- NPI Engineer
Experience in automotive manufacturing would be welcomed, particularly where you have worked within a structured, high-volume or assembly-based manufacturing environment, but it is not essential.
We would also consider candidates from a range of manufacturing sectors who can demonstrate strong process improvement and problem-solving experience.
You'll ideally have:
- HNC/HND, degree or equivalent experience in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial Engineering or a related discipline.
- Previous experience within a manufacturing or production engineering environment.
- A strong understanding of manufacturing processes and assembly operations.
- Experience of continuous improvement and process optimisation.
- Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles and improvement methodologies.
- Experience using problem-solving and root cause analysis techniques.
- The ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and technical documentation.
- Experience developing processes, work instructions or standard operating procedures.
- A practical, hands-on approach to engineering and problem solving.
- Strong analytical and decision-making skills.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to influence people across different departments.
- The confidence to challenge existing processes and suggest better ways of working.
The Person
We're looking for someone who doesn't simply identify problems but wants to find the solution and make the improvement happen.
You'll be:
- Improvement-focused – always looking for a better, safer or more efficient way of doing things.
- Hands-on – comfortable spending time on the shop floor and working directly with production teams.
- Analytical – able to use data and evidence to understand problems and measure improvements.
- Practical – capable of turning engineering ideas into workable solutions.
- Influential – able to engage and bring people with you when implementing change.
- Proactive – someone who sees opportunities rather than waiting to be asked.
- Commercially aware – understanding the impact of manufacturing decisions on cost, quality and delivery.
- Collaborative – comfortable working across Production, Engineering, Quality, Design and Supply Chain.
- Organised – able to manage multiple improvement projects and priorities.
Why This Role?
This is an opportunity to join a business where your engineering knowledge can have a visible impact on how products are manufactured.
Rather than simply maintaining existing processes, you'll have the opportunity to challenge, improve and develop them, working alongside production and engineering teams to deliver measurable improvements.
If you enjoy continuous improvement, solving manufacturing problems and seeing an idea move from concept to implementation, this could be an excellent opportunity.
Automotive manufacturing experience is welcomed but not essential – our client is interested in engineers who can demonstrate the right approach, experience and passion for improving manufacturing performance.