Lead Engineer

About the Position

Lead Engineer

Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom

HydraForce, operating from our purpose-built facility in Birmingham, UK, is a global designer and manufacturer of motion control systems and the world’s leading manufacturer of hydraulic cartridge valves and custom hydraulic integrated circuits, as well as electronic controls for a variety of off-highway industries.

Bosch Rexroth and HydraForce bring together two world-class leaders in hydraulic motion control. By combining our strengths, we've broadened our hydraulics offering to deliver the world's highest quality hydraulic control solutions to more OEMs across the globe. Together, we are expanding the possibilities of hydraulic control technology to provide innovative and reliable solutions.

To provide technical support and leadership to the Production and Logistics Departments by identifying the operations and improvements required to produce products and developing processes to ensure quality, cost, and efficiency requirements are met on a timely basis and in accordance with business needs. Set goals and standards and guide and develop Manufacturing Engineers, Junior Engineers, and Technicians to achieve those goals.

Responsibilities

• Ensure that all Manufacturing Cells and operational areas receive the correct level of focus to meet Operational targets, NPI targets, and Project targets.
• Guide, mentor, and develop Manufacturing Engineers, Junior Engineers, and Technicians.
• Develop, monitor, and report Key Performance Metrics.
• Create and maintain departmental procedures. Train individuals as necessary and maintain training records.
• Enhance existing company procedures taking into account all manufacturing sites.
• Provide full engineering and technical support across the manufacturing facility including all business units, prep, honing, and stores, to ensure that production operating levels are achieved and maintained.
• Manage projects within agreed timeframes and to budget, to achieve agreed objectives and meet business needs.
• Produce and maintain relevant internal documentation to company standards, ensuring they are clear, concise, and understandable for all users. Ensuring team members follow the process.
• Generate, develop, and update Process Control Plans (PCPs), Visual Control Plans (VCPs), Test Control Plans (TCPs), FMEAs, and SOP’s.
• Design and develop lean manufacturing cells, through analysis of process needs to include process assembly and test equipment.
• Design and develop assembly and testing fixtures to meet the departmental needs, liaising with external suppliers.
• Identify and lead cost reduction and process efficiency improvement activities, including provision of relevant documentation relating to cost savings and proposed efficiencies.
• Support prototype builds ensuring that all special requirements are met within agreed timescales.
• Conduct NPI activities in accordance with company procedures.
• Identify, justify, and implement improvement opportunities.
• Use statistical tools to validate new processes or equipment or changes to existing processes or equipment.
• Specify and purchase facilities to aid production, liaising with relevant internal departments where necessary obtaining best value to meet production needs.
• Conduct time studies on new/existing cells. Report SMV to AMV variations and implement solutions.
• Work with your counterpart colleagues at different manufacturing sites to ensure best practice and open and clear communication.

Requirements

• HNC/HND or Degree level in Mechanical or Manufacturing Engineering.
• Successful completion of engineering Apprenticeship preferred.
• Proven experience of working in a fast-paced, manufacturing environment.
• Experienced in managing projects, delivering on time and within budget.
• Working knowledge of CAD systems – Creo & Autocad advantageous.
• Working knowledge of hydraulics and/or pneumatics advantageous.
• Thorough understanding and experience in the application of lean principles, including Kaizen, 5s, and Kanban.
• 6 Sigma qualification advantageous.

We Offer

• A range of benefits including employee discounts, various sports and health opportunities, on-site parking.
• Flexible work-time options, benefits, and services.
• Room for creativity.

You will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK, as we are unable to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. International applicants would not be provided with a Skilled Worker visa for this role and will only be able to take up this role if they can demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.