Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Manufacturing Engineering Manager

EMBS Talent has been exclusively retained to support our partner in identifying a Manufacturing Engineering Manager / Lead to join their business on a permanent basis.

Location: Northamptonshire

Permanent / Contract: Permanent

Salary: Competitive - Negotiable depending on experience

Based in Northamptonshire, our client is a market leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance components for the motorsport, F1 and automotive sectors.

Due to continued growth and internal succession planning, our client is seeking an experienced Manufacturing Engineering Manager / Lead to take ownership of the manufacturing engineering function, leading a small team of engineers and acting as the technical link between the shop floor, senior management and customers.

This is a hands‑on leadership role suited to someone with a strong CAD/CAM and machine shop background, who can step in and add value from day one with minimal training or ramp‑up time required.

What's in it for you?

• A competitive salary, dependent on experience


• Excellent benefits package including; employer pension contribution starting at 10% and rising, Death in Service, Income Protection, EAP, Private Healthcare, 35 days holiday inclusive of Bank Holidays, plus the option to purchase more, discretionary annual bonus plus more


• A permanent, full-time position with a well-established precision engineering business offering stability and longevity


• The opportunity to lead a small, highly experienced technical team


• A varied role combining hands‑on technical involvement with genuine influence over department processes

Key responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the manufacturing engineering team, allocating workload across engineers according to priority, capacity and capability


• Review technical drawings to determine manufacturing routes, estimate programming and production times, and decide whether work is completed in‑house or subcontracted


• Produce quotations for new and one-off components, working closely with senior management to validate costings before they are issued to customers


• Oversee tooling selection and procurement, maintaining budgetary control and reporting on spend


• Maintain and embed disciplined CNC programming and change control standards across the department


• Liaise with suppliers and subcontractors on outsourced processes where required


• Support new product introduction, process changes and production readiness activities


• Provide clear reporting on project progress, risks and performance to senior management

Successful applicants must be able to demonstrate:

• Proven experience in a manufacturing or production engineering environment within a low‑volume, high‑precision engineering sector (motorsport, automotive or similar)


• A strong technical understanding of CAD/CAM programming principles, ideally including exposure to CNC programming software; experience with alternative CAD/CAM systems will also be considered


• A machine shop or CNC background, with the ability to read technical drawings and estimate programming and manufacturing times accurately


• Previous experience leading or supervising a small team, with the confidence to manage experienced technical staff


• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to liaise confidently with senior management, customers and suppliers


• The ability to work under pressure, balancing competing priorities and tight delivery deadlines

Desirable:

• Direct experience with CNC simulation and CAM software with the ability to perform CNC Programming


• Background within motorsport, automotive or another similarly regulated precision engineering sector


• A relevant engineering qualification, such as a Degree, HND or equivalent practical experience

About us:

EMBS Talent is a dedicated talent specialist that partners with some of the UK's most prestigious, advanced, precision engineering companies within the Aerospace, Automotive / Motorsport, Nuclear, Oil & Gas, Green, Environmental, and FMCG industries.

We'll offer you expert support and advice throughout the process to ensure you select and secure a career-defining role.

Please note, due to the nature of the markets our client supplies into, all candidates must be UK residents; we cannot offer visa sponsorship for overseas candidates