Manufacturing Engineer

As a Manufacturing Engineer you will join our team in Portsmouth and will act as the key manufacturing interface within multidisciplinary project teams, ensuring that product designs are aligned with manufacturing capabilities to achieve quality, cost, and delivery objectives. You will play a critical role in New Product Introduction (NPI), manufacturing process development, continuous improvement initiatives, and technical problem-solving throughout the product lifecycle.

• Location: Portsmouth
• On Site: Fully onsite
• Clearance:  Clearable 
• Experience Level: Mid Level

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead Manufacturing Engineering activities for New Product Introduction (NPI) projects.
• Ensure seamless transition of products from design through to manufacture and production readiness.
• Develop and maintain manufacturing documentation, including work instructions, process routings, and cost models.
• Assess manufacturing capability and identify any facility, equipment, or process limitations that could impact delivery.
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering and project teams to resolve technical and operational challenges.
• Support non-conformance investigations and drive corrective actions through structured problem-solving techniques.
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement preventative actions to improve manufacturing performance.
• Identify manufacturing risks and develop effective mitigation plans.
• Champion Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFMA) principles to improve efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
• Drive continuous improvement projects focused on productivity, quality, and operational excellence.
• Ensure compliance with all health, safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
• Support the implementation of manufacturing strategies and best practices across the business.

Required Skills:

• Minimum of 3 years' engineering experience within the aerospace, space, defence, military electronics, or other highly regulated engineering sectors.
• Strong experience with:
  • Electronic manufacturing
  • PCB assembly processes
  • Surface Mount Technology (SMT)
  • High-reliability electronic products
• Experience working within high-complexity, low-volume manufacturing environments.
• Understanding of the full product lifecycle, from design and development through to production.
• Familiarity with manufacturing systems and tools such as CAD, CAM, MES, ERP/SAP, or equivalent.
• Demonstrated experience working within cross-functional or matrix organisations.
• Strong problem-solving skills with experience in root cause analysis and corrective action methodologies.
• Ability to identify and drive process improvements that deliver measurable business benefits.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Required Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, or equivalent military experience.

Desirable Skills:

• Experience supporting aerospace, space, defence, or military electronics programmes.
• Knowledge of RF products and high-reliability electronic assemblies.
• Exposure to non-conformance management processes, MRB/NRB reviews, and production problem-solving activities.
• Continuous Improvement, Lean Manufacturing, or Six Sigma knowledge.

Why join us? 

We bring together entrepreneurial, tech-driven people to deliver innovative solutions for leading companies.

At ALTEN, you’ll work on exciting projects, supported by ongoing learning, mentoring, and clear career development tailored to your goals.

Join a passionate team and help build tomorrow, today.

In short you get: 

• A personalised career path and a rewarding management style 
• A huge diversity of engineering projects and industries
• Private Medical Insurance
• Cycle & Tech Scheme 
• Employee assistance programme
• Life insurance & Pension Scheme
• Social atmosphere, regular gatherings & team buildings
• Flexible way of working (role dependent)

We are proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant & actively encourage applications from members of the Armed Forces community, including veterans, reservists, service leavers, and military spouses/partners. We recognise the value of military skills and experience and are committed to ensuring that no applicant is unfairly disadvantaged during our recruitment and selection processes. 

ALTEN is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and values the strength that comes from a global mix of backgrounds and perspectives. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of background or protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know. 

This role may require you to have or be willing to go through Security Clearance. As part of the onboarding process candidates will be asked to complete a Baseline Personnel Security Standard; details of the evidence required to apply may be found on the government website Gov.UK. If you are unable to meet this and any associated criteria, then your employment may be delayed, or rejected . Details of this will be discussed with you at interview.