Composites Manufacturing Engineer

About the client

Our client is an established aero-structures manufacturer in Lancashire with a large composites operation.

They build flight-critical structures for some of the biggest names in aerospace and defence, and demand is growing.

Their key defence customer wants to see the composites area step up.

The business is bringing in an experienced contractor to strengthen the engineering and help get the operation running the way it should.

The role

This is a hands-on technical role for a composites manufacturing engineer who knows the process inside out.

You’ll support live production, solve problems at the source, and drive the improvements that make the gains stick.

It suits someone who can walk onto a shop floor, quickly see what needs fixing, and get it done.

What you’ll be doing

• Providing manufacturing and process engineering support across prepreg composite production: layup, autoclave and out-of-autoclave cure, trim and NDT inspection
• Working on monolithic and sandwich (honeycomb) structures in carbon, glass and aramid
• Tackling technical issues such as defects and porosity, concessions, quality escapes and process stability
• Reviewing and improving manufacturing methods, work instructions and process documentation
• Leading continuous improvement, including 5S (alongside the customer’s own support), lean, root cause and flow
• Improving right-first-time, scrap and on-time delivery
• Working closely with production, quality and the customer, and keeping everyone updated on progress

What we’re looking for

• A strong technical composites background with prepreg and autoclave and/or OOA processing
• Experience as a manufacturing, process or composites engineer in aerospace, defence or another AS9100-regulated environment
• Practical use of CI tools such as 5S, lean, 8D/root cause and PFMEA
• Confident, self-driven and comfortable making change happen on the shop floor
• Eligible for BPSS clearance (SC eligibility desirable)

Why apply

• Outside IR35
• 4-day week
• A high-impact role where your work is visible to a tier-one defence customer
• An initial 6-month contract with a growing aerospace business