Manufacturing Engineering Lead (FAL)

Published 08.06.2026

Company : Safran Seats Job field : Industrial Engineering Location : Cwmbran , Wales , United Kingdom Contract type : Permanent Contract duration : Full-time Professional status : Professional, Engineer & Manager

2026-185681

Published 08.06.2026

Job Description

In the role of Manufacturing Engineer Lead, you'll be responsible for leading a team of manufacturing engineers on our Final Assembly Line.

Ensuring product designs meet manufacturing and assembly requirements, you will have a solid knowledge and understanding of the new product introduction process and be working at a competent/ proficient level.

Here, you'll be responsible for more complex projects and will work closely with other functions of the business especially Production, design engineering and Industrialisation to ensure product designs meet manufacturing and assembly requirements and promote process improvements.

Job Requirements

Provide Engineering Support to the Final Assembly lines.

Drive ME team to ensure design for assembly/manufacture issues are highlighted and eliminated at every key stage of the production. Lead lessons learnt sessions of previous Shipset issues at the beginning of projects

Facilitate problem solving activities

Eliminating non-value adding activities – continuous Improvement

Manage operations configuration tracker

Support production readiness reviews

Assist with ergonomic workshops

Promote and encourage teams on 5S and lean principles, ensure wastes are eliminated during the design of the production process and the team is trained in the application of lean methodology

Manage APQP & PPAP documentation are compiled and released at the correct level of quality and on time

Ensure PFMEAS are reviewed and all actions are closed

Ensure tools and equipment requirements are identified and budgeted for and specification documents capture not just functional requirements but ergonomic and health and safety requirements

Recognise the need to carry out a route cause analysis to resolve an issue. Organise the required team and ensure the process is duly carried out

Ensure department's document are properly controlled and periodically reviewed to keep them up to date as well as compliance with the company's engineering change procedure

Communicate effectively and professionally with customers and suppliers and ensure confidentiality of information is always maintained

Line management responsibility for recruitment, induction for new employees, ongoing performance management, absence, coaching, mentoring, and giving feedback / recognition and support for wellbeing

Carry out periodic performance development reviews (PDR's) of team members supporting employees with their professional development to achieve their career aspirations

Encourage a culture of continuous improvement within the team

Coach and mentor younger engineers

Identify tooling and equipment requirements for new processes and write specification documents that will be used as basis for supplier quotation. Work with suppliers to ensure requirements are met

Check and approve engineering drawings ensuring effect of tolerances on the assembly process is taken into consideration and process ECR's

Communicate effectively and professionally with customers and suppliers and ensure confidentiality of information is always maintained

But what else? (advantages, specific features, etc.)

Essential Skill s for this role

HNC, HND, B.Eng. in Mechanical, Manufacturing or similar engineering OR gained through an apprenticeship in a relevant engineering

Proven experience in a manufacturing environment

Proven experience of leading and developing a technical team

Experience of working within company and regulatory processes, standards and specifications

Excellent knowledge of design for manufacture and assembly principles

Good knowledge of manufacturing processes

Good knowledge and application of Lean Six Sigma principles

Ability to interpret 2D drawings

Good leadership and team management skills

Good organisational skills

Attention to detail

Presentation skills

Able to work well within a team

Good written and oral communication skills

Problem solving skills

Ability to manage own workload

Computer literate

Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines

Ability to train and mentor younger engineers

Willing to travel to support company objectives

Desirable Skills for the role

APQP & PPAP

PFMEA

3D CAD modelling software

CATIA 3D modelling software

CATIA 3D CAD modelling software

Aircraft seat manufacture

Project management

Company Information

Safran is an international high-technology group operating in the fields of aerospace (propulsion, equipment and interiors), space and defense. Its mission is to contribute sustainably to a safer world, where air transport becomes ever more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Present on every continent, the Group employs 110,000 people and generated €31.3 billion in revenue in 2025. Safran holds, either independently or through partnerships, leading global or European positions in its markets.

Safran was ranked second in the Aerospace & Defense sector in TIME magazine's ""World's Best Companies 2025"" ranking.

With more than one million seats installed across the fleets of the world's leading airlines, Safran Seats is one of the global leaders in passenger, crew, aircraft and helicopter seating, delivering innovative, high value-added solutions.

Locate your future workplace

Llantarnam Industrial Park NP44 3HQ

Cwmbran

Wales United Kingdom