Principal Manufacturing Engineer

A leading engineering group is developing the next generation of batteries for the automotive, marine and advanced technology sectors. As part of this significant investment, the company has appointed Vectis Recruitment as exclusive recruitment partner to lead the appointment for a Principal Manufacturing Engineer. This role will play a pivotal part in establishing the new battery pack manufacturing facility from the ground up. The successful candidate will lead the transition from prototype builds to robust, low-to-medium volume production. The Role Lead the development, implementation and optimisation of manufacturing processes for battery pack assembly and production. Define and execute scalable manufacturing strategies for low-volume, high-mix battery pack production. Establish and optimise manufacturing workflows, production processes and facility layouts. Lead the setup, commissioning and operational readiness of new battery pack manufacturing facilities. Develop process flows, material handling strategies, line balancing and production control methodologies. Support capacity planning, production ramp-up, and long-term manufacturing scalability initiatives. Implement robust product traceability systems throughout the manufacturing process to ensure quality and regulatory compliance. Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, throughput, and cost reduction. Maintain compliance with high-voltage (HV) safety procedures and lithium-ion battery handling, storage and manufacturing requirements. Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and coaching to manufacturing engineers, technicians, and production personnel. The Person Proven experience in senior manufacturing engineering role within the automotive, aerospace, electrification, motorsport, marine, or related industries. In-depth knowledge of lithium-ion battery pack manufacturing processes, assembly techniques and production best practices. Proven experience supporting the full product lifecycle, from prototype development through industrialisation and into volume production. Strong understanding of manufacturing process validation, production readiness, and successful product launch activities. Demonstrated expertise in Lean Manufacturing principles, continuous improvement initiatives, and operational excellence methodologies. Strong leadership capabilities with a proven track record of building, developing, and leading high-performing engineering and manufacturing teams