We are looking for an experienced Machine Shop Manager to lead and oversee a busy machining function within a highly technical composite engineering and manufacturing environment.
This is a hands-on leadership position requiring someone with a strong background in machine shop operations, CNC machining and people management.
The successful candidate will take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the machine shop, ensuring work is delivered safely, efficiently, to specification and within required deadlines.
A key part of the position will also involve procurement and the management of externally outsourced metallic work where manufacturing cannot be completed in-house.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, manage and support the machine shop team.
- Oversee the day-to-day operation and workflow of the machining function.
- Ensure machined components are produced to the required quality, specification and delivery deadlines.
- Oversee CNC and manual machining activities.
- Manage production planning, capacity and resources within the machine shop.
- Identify workload constraints and ensure appropriate allocation of people and machinery.
- Manage the procurement of materials, tooling, consumables and other machine shop requirements.
- Identify metallic machining/manufacturing work that cannot be completed internally and manage its outsourcing.
- Source and liaise with external machining and manufacturing suppliers.
- Manage supplier performance across quality, cost and delivery.
- Work closely with engineering, production and other internal departments.
- Support stock and material requirements for the machine shop.
- Ensure drawings, specifications, tolerances and quality requirements are achieved.
- Support inspection and quality-control processes.
- Provide technical input into machining and manufacturing projects.
- Support project planning and delivery.
- Identify opportunities to improve machine shop efficiency, capability and workflow.
- Develop, support and mentor members of the machine shop team.
- Maintain a safe, organised and professional working environment.
Experience & Skills Required
The ideal candidate will have:
- Proven experience managing or supervising a machine shop.
- A strong practical background in CNC machining.
- Experience with CNC milling and/or turning.
- CNC programming, setting or operating knowledge would be highly advantageous.
- Strong understanding of precision engineering and working to tight tolerances.
- Experience managing machinists, CNC operators or other technical manufacturing employees.
- Production, workload and capacity-planning experience.
- Experience working from technical and engineering drawings.
- Good understanding of quality and inspection requirements.
- Experience with procurement of materials, tooling and machine shop requirements.
- Experience managing external suppliers.
- Experience outsourcing/subcontracting machining or metallic manufacturing work.
- Strong project-management skills.
- Excellent organisation and problem-solving ability.
- Strong communication and people-management skills.
- A practical, hands-on approach to leadership.
Industry Background
Candidates could potentially come from:
Motorsport | Aerospace | Marine | Automotive | Advanced Engineering | Precision Manufacturing
Direct experience within one of these industries would be beneficial, but the strength of the candidate’s machine shop, CNC and management experience is more important than coming from one specific sector.
Ideal Candidate Profile
We are particularly interested in candidates who have developed their careers through machining and progressed into leadership, for example:
CNC Machinist → Senior/Lead CNC Machinist → Machine Shop Supervisor → Machine Shop Manager
The ideal candidate will therefore combine hands-on technical credibility with strong management capability.
They should understand what happens on the shop floor but also be comfortable managing people, production schedules, capacity, procurement, suppliers, subcontract machining, quality and projects.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced machine shop professional to take ownership of an important manufacturing function within a technically demanding engineering environment.
Working Hours: 40 hours per week
Monday–Thursday: 07:00–16:00
Friday: 07:00–13:00
Working Arrangement: On-site
Reports to: Workshop Manager
Interested?
Contact Nicole at Red Chilli Recruitment:
nicole@redchillirecruitment.com
or apply direct: