Lead Manufacturing Engineer - NPI; Product Introduction

Job Description Summary

Here are Dowty (a GE Aerospace company) we have an exciting fixed term contract opportunity for a Lead Manufacturing Engineer - NPI, to join our onsite team at our cutting edge manufacturing site near Gloucester. As the Lead Manufacturing Engineer you'll lead a small team to develop and optimize manufacturing processes for a new development program, covering composite, electro‑mechanical, and hydraulic systems.

At GE Aerospace, we're redefining flight with cutting‑edge propeller systems for Military and Civil applications, all from our state‑of‑the‑art facility in Gloucestershire, UK. As a Lead Manufacturing Engineer
, you'll play a pivotal role in a new development program
, driving innovation across composite, electro‑mechanical, and hydraulic systems to create the next generation of electrified, sustainable aviation.

This is your chance to lead a small team of talented engineers, influence designs, and develop advanced manufacturing processes that will shape the future of aerospace. You'll be empowered to ensure design intent is flawlessly translated into production, while pioneering automation and new technologies to deliver repeatable, reliable, and lean manufacturing solutions.

• Leadership and Team Management:
  • Lead and mentor a small team of engineers, providing technical direction, guidance, and support to ensure project success.
  • Foster collaboration and communication within the team and across departments to achieve program goals.
  • Delegate tasks effectively while maintaining accountability for team deliverables.
• Technical Expertise Across Disciplines:
  • Take a hands‑on approach to resolving manufacturing engineering issues using data, rationale, and logic.
  • Influence design engineering to ensure manufacturing is represented during the product development process, prioritising design for manufacture/assembly throughout the program.
  • Lead hands‑on trials and manufacturing of development parts to validate processes and technologies across composite, electro‑mechanical, and hydraulic systems
    .
• Process Development:
  • Develop test routines to establish process parameters around new technologies and systems, guiding manufacturing applications and determining feasibility of designed solutions.
  • Employ virtual manufacturing tools to simulate workflow, automation sequences, and space requirements, informing capacity plans, resource requirements, and line balancing.
  • Develop robust, lean solutions for equipment layouts, process design, and product flow to maximise ROI and reduce hours/costs per unit.
• Continuous Improvement:
  • Ensure process capability, cycle time, and equipment availability targets are achievable through automation, existing solutions, and new technology introduction.
  • Define equipment lists, spare requirements, training requirements (production, ME and maintenance), work instructions, and substance/equipment safety documentation.
  • Lead the installation/commissioning process to deliver systems that meet delivery targets and operational requirements across safety, quality, delivery and cost (SQDC).
• Quality and Compliance:
  • Be a key part of an APQP rollout and an FMEA critical characteristic cascade into internal and supplier quality operating systems.
  • Ensure compliance with health & safety (H&S) and construction design & management (CDM) regulations.

• Education and Experience:
  • Bachelor's degree or above in Engineering with considerable experience or equivalent knowledge in Technical Project/Program Management.
  • Proven experience in leading small teams within a manufacturing environment.
  • Extensive experience with the New Product Introduction (NPI) process, including project planning and execution.
  • Strong manufacturing background with expertise in facilities development, engineering, robotics, automation and conveyor technologies.
  • Demonstrated ability to optimise existing processes for throughput, quality and availability during both design and commissioning phases.
• Technical Skills Across Disciplines:
  • Knowledge of problem‑solving methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, 8D, PPS, RedX) and APQP requirements.
  • Experience defining FMEAs,…