Senior Production Engineer | Precision CNC Machining | Braintree | Highly Competitive Package

A well-established precision CNC subcontract manufacturer serving defence and other high-specification sectors is looking for an ambitious, hands-on Senior Production Engineer with an instinctive feel for machining, programming and process development. This is an opportunity for someone who wants to make a name for themselves by delivering genuinely first-class manufacturing and production solutions.

This is a senior technical role with responsibility for taking complex components from drawing through to a fully proven, production-ready manufacturing process. It is not an office-only CAD/CAM position and it is not a role dedicated solely to one new machine. Working across the wider CNC facility and reporting to the Technical Lead, the successful candidate will have the authority, experience and practical ability to take complete ownership of demanding manufacturing projects.

The role

• Taking complete ownership of jobs from initial drawing and manufacturing-data review through process planning, CAD/CAM programming, tooling, workholding and fixture design, prove-out, inspection strategy and final production handover
• Specifying and coordinating every element needed to make a job production-ready, including cutting tools, special tooling, fixtures, gauges, setup documentation and subcontract process requirements
• Personally setting, proving and refining complex CNC work at pace until the process is safe, capable, repeatable and suitable for efficient day, night and lights-out production
• Production-engineering work across the full installed machine base, including multi-pallet and five-axis equipment; involvement with new automated machinery will form part of the role but will not be its sole focus
• Driving projects to agreed timescales and sensible cost allowances, working with the Technical Lead and wider team to deliver robust solutions without unnecessary delay or cost

What we''re looking for

• An exceptional hands-on CNC machining and CAD/CAM background is essential; machining, programming and process improvement should be at the heart of how you think
• Experience of taking complex CNC components from drawing to stable, repeatable production, not simply programming individual operations
• Strong experience in tooling strategy, complex workholding and fixture design, five-axis machining, multi-pallet systems and unattended production
• The curiosity and commercial awareness to challenge established methods, identify the best machining strategy and select the most effective tooling, while avoiding needless complexity
• HyperMILL experience is strongly preferred; experience of Matsuura multi-pallet machines and familiarity with Heidenhain and Fanuc controls would also be advantageous, together with the discipline required for defence-sector traceability, documentation and quality standards

Why join

This is an opportunity to make a visible impact within a growing precision-engineering business that combines the backing of a large group with a modern, well-equipped working environment.

• Part of a large, established engineering group, with continued investment and a forward order book extending approximately ten years
• 5% employer pension contribution, death-in-service cover of nine times basic salary and an employee health benefit
• 25 days'' paid holiday plus bank holidays, together with access to employee discounts and rewards platform
• Agreed flexible-working arrangements, subject to role requirements and management approval, within a modern, clean facility

A highly competitive package will be agreed individually with the successful Senior Production Engineer based on proven capability and experience, with either a salaried or hourly-paid arrangement available.

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