Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Continuous Improvement (CI)

Role title: Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Continuous Improvement (CI)

Closing date: 11th June 2026

Location: RG7 4PR & RG30 3RR, located between Reading and Basingstoke, with free onsite parking.

Package: 49,480 - 55,000 + Allowance (depending on your suitability & level of experience)

Working pattern: AWE operates a 9-day working fortnight. We will consider flexible working requests so that your work may fit in with your lifestyle. Just let us know your preferred working pattern on your application.

Ready to play your part?

At AWE, it's not just a job, it's far more than that. Our shared purpose is to help keep the nation safe. Could this role be the opportunity for you to play your part?

AWE is currently recruiting for a Senior Manufacturing Engineer to help design and shape the UK's future nuclear deterrent using innovation and the latest technologies, processes and capabilities.

This role is to support and improve our manufacturing systems used in the manufacture of the deterrent via Continuous Improvement. Due to the classified nature of the work involved, there are limited opportunities to work from home in this role. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will spend the majority of their time working on site at AWE.

This role is ideally suited to candidates with vast experience in working within a manufacturing environment. Specifically, the support of production capabilities, the management of non-conformance, the deployment and usage of Lean manufacturing tools & Techniques and Problem Solving. You must have great Leadership skills, as Task/Line Management is a big part of this role.

Working in a highly regulated environment, alongside our design teams, technical experts and Operations team, the role of the Senior Manufacturing Engineer is to identify, develop and implement innovative ways of working, supporting production operations to delivering continuous improvement activities.

Who are we looking for?

Whilst not to be considered a tick list, we'd like you to have experience in some of the following:

• Knowledge of and Experience applying Lean Manufacturing Techniques, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), Statistical Process Control (SPC), Continuous Improvement, Quality Tools, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Obsolescence Management and Model Based Engineering
• Knowledge and understanding of process control and problem investigation tools (PFMEAs, control plans, RCA, A3, 5 whys)
• Process and manufacturing documentation development to support safe systems of work
• Experience of working in a manufacturing or operational environment, supporting production and driving efficiencies
• Experience of using MRP / ERP systems to support production, manage inventory and to generate business data
• Experience of driving and managing those improvements through to completion and validating efficiencies (Plan, Do, Check, Act)
• Experience and Knowledge of creating and managing Route Cards (RC), Technical Instructions (TI) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Design to Manufacture experience of process, tooling or equipment including requirements capture and presenting at design reviews
• Configuration management
• Tools and software supporting digital manufacturing
• Driving and managing engineering change and transformation within a manufacturing environment

We would love you to have the following soft skills:

• Excellent interpersonal and team building skills, capable of building good working relationships within the organisation
• Leadership skills (A must)
• Stakeholder engagement
• Strong communication skills

Work hard, be rewarded:

We ask a lot and set the bar high because our work truly matters. In return we offer balance, with award winning benefits including:

• 9-day working fortnight - meaning you get every other Friday off work, in addition to 270 hours of annual leave.
• Market leading contributory pension scheme (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your contributions)
• Family friendly policies: Maternity Leave - 39 Weeks Full Pay and Paternity Leave - 4 Weeks Full Pay
• Opportunities for Professional Career Development including funding for annual membership of a relevant professional body
• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services
• Life Assurance (4 x annual salary)
• Discounts - access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending
• Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring

You must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the security clearance required for the role (more information on this can be found on our website) and be willing and able to travel within the UK and overseas if required