Rolls-Royce
Designs and manufactures power and propulsion systems for aerospace, marine, defence and energy sectors.
Chief of Manufacturing Engineering
Lead Defence manufacturing engineering, driving digital, quality and process improvements.
Job Highlights
About the Role
The Chief of Manufacturing Engineering – Defence UK role reports to the Senior Vice President – Manufacturing Engineering and Operations Strategy and is based in Bristol, with occasional overseas travel. The position holds technical accountability for Defence internal plants, including OE & Development, MRO and Defence Manufacturing, and functional accountability for the manufacturing engineering team and digital manufacturing activities across these sites. Key duties include integrating manufacturing engineering across the product lifecycle, acting as the technical authority for method of manufacture, and ensuring processes meet quality, cost, delivery and lead‑time targets. You will lead technical problem resolution, control manufacturing change, champion a zero‑defects culture, and coach the engineering community in RRPS and DMAIC tools while developing future technical leaders. • Integrate manufacturing engineering across product lifecycle. • Serve as technical authority for method of manufacture. • Ensure methods meet quality, cost, delivery, lead‑time targets. • Control and chair manufacturing process change across supply chain. • Align aftermarket, manufacturing, and supply‑chain strategies. • Lead product transfers into and out of Defence facilities. • Deliver digital manufacturing projects and deploy capabilities. • Drive best‑practice processes with commodity leaders. • Promote zero‑defects culture via problem resolution. • Coach engineers in RRPS and DMAIC tools; audit compliance. • Develop and mentor technical leaders; scout talent. • Oversee professionalism of manufacturing engineering community. • Lead projects across diverse manufacturing engineering processes. • Report to SVP Manufacturing Engineering & Operations Strategy.
Key Responsibilities
- ▸manufacturing integration
- ▸method authority
- ▸process change
- ▸digital manufacturing
- ▸zero defects
- ▸coaching
What You Bring
Candidates must be a graduate engineer or have equivalent industrial experience, with proven technical leadership of an engineering community and a track record of delivering projects across diverse manufacturing engineering processes. Experience of facility redesign, moves, technology acquisition, new product introduction, process revalidation and capability improvement is essential, while knowledge of a Part 145 environment is advantageous. • Graduate engineer or equivalent industrial experience. • Proven technical leadership of engineering community. • Experience with facility redesign, moves, technology acquisition, new product introduction, process revalidation or capability improvement. • Knowledge of Part 145 environment (beneficial). • Strong professional network and stakeholder influence. • Based in Bristol with occasional overseas travel. • Grade Management Level B; salary based on experience.
Requirements
- ▸graduate engineer
- ▸technical leadership
- ▸facility redesign
- ▸tech acquisition
- ▸new product
- ▸part 145
Benefits
The role is graded at Management Level B, with salary dependent on skills and experience, and offers a supportive, inclusive workplace within Rolls‑Royce’s multi‑year transformation programme. Applications should be discussed with your current manager, and further information can be obtained from Lizzie Moore ([email protected]). • Inclusive, respectful workplace within transformation programme.
Work Environment
Onsite