Senior Manufacturing Engineer – Fibre optics

Overview

In this role you enable safe, efficient molding operations by leading manufacturing improvements and supporting the Molding Value Stream. You work across Operations, Quality and Engineering to stabilize processes, improve quality, and drive productivity and cost efficiency. You’ll manage equipment installation, NPI, and continuous improvement programs while ensuring compliant documentation and robust process controls. You will shape safe, scalable manufacturing performance through data-driven decision making and lean practices.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day Manufacturing Engineering support to the Thermofit Molding Value Stream, ensuring process stability, product quality, and operational efficiency
• Lead and deliver manufacturing projects supporting capacity expansion, equipment installation, process improvements, new product introduction, product transfers, and business growth initiatives
• Manage project activities from concept through handover to operations (procurement, installation, commissioning, validation)
• Analyse manufacturing and performance data to identify opportunities for improvement and develop business cases for capital investment
• Develop, implement, and maintain robust manufacturing processes and controls for safe, repeatable production
• Ensure manufacturing documentation (process specs, work instructions, BOMs, PFMEAs, control plans, validation records) is current and compliant
• Drive continuous improvement using Lean Manufacturing and structured problem-solving techniques
• Investigate and resolve in-process quality issues, customer complaints and non-conformances with effective CAPA
• Ensure process changes are documented per procedures, customer requirements, and regulatory obligations
• Support New Product Introduction activities to industrialise products and transfer to production
• Collaborate with Production, Quality, Planning and Technical teams to meet operational objectives
• Participate in daily operational reviews to resolve issues and minimise disruption
• Promote a strong safety culture with risk assessment and regulatory compliance
• Support achievement of targets for productivity, quality, scrap reduction, on-time delivery, and OEE

Key requirements

• Degree-level qualified in Engineering or equivalent; strong hands-on experience in manufacturing engineering
• Proven experience delivering manufacturing improvements, capital investment and capacity expansion projects
• Strong knowledge of PFMEA, Control Plans, process validation and change control
• Experience analyzing data and applying structured problem-solving to technical, process and quality issues
• Excellent organizational and planning skills with ability to manage multiple priorities
• Strong communication and stakeholder management across Engineering, Operations, Quality, Planning and Supply Chain
• Ability to make informed decisions in a fast-paced manufacturing environment using data and judgment
• Self-motivated, capable of working independently and in cross-functional teams
• Proficient with MS Office and MRP/ERP systems, preferably SAP
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, RCA, 8D, and CI methodologies
• Understanding of Health, Safety, Environmental and Quality requirements in manufacturing
• Desirable: experience in molding/plastics, aerospace quality standards, and defence-regulated environments
• Six Sigma Green Belt or higher is advantageous
• Experience with automation, vision systems, and modern manufacturing technologies
• Knowledge of APQP, PPAP, validation and product industrialisation processes

• strong communication
• stakeholder management
• cross-functional collaboration
• PFMEA
• Control Plans
• Process Validation

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