Manufacturing Engineering Team Leader

Job Title: Manufacturing Engineer Team Leader

Location: Rochester; Kent: Onsite

Salary: Up to £56,000 depending on experience

Who we are: 

Join BAE Systems and you’ll be part of something bigger. As a valued member of our global colleague network, you’ll bring your unique skills and perspectives to help pioneer progress and protect what matters most. You’ll be trusted to play your part in delivering the advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions of tomorrow, shaping a safer future, for all of us.

From the depths of the ocean, to the far reaches of space, there’s no limit to where a career at BAE Systems could take you.

Job Description:

We are seeking an experienced Team Leader to lead our Manufacturing Engineering team. Combining manufacturing knowledge with exceptional leadership and people management skills. The successful candidate will drive continuous improvement in process performance, and delivery, while embedding and championing a positive, inclusive, and supportive culture that motivates, develops, and empowers the team.

Core duties:

• Lead, inspire and manage day to day team operations and resource planning. Ensuring clear communication and alignment with business objectives
• Forecast and manage resource requirements proactively to meet current and future demands
• Own the performance management process, conducting regular reviews, creating development plans, and addressing performance challenges with fairness and focus
• Produce and refine KPI reports that provide senior management with clear insight into team performance, control, and areas for improvement
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, quality, and team engagement
• Champion and nurture a positive, inclusive, and high-performance culture—promoting collaboration, accountability, and respect across your team
• Engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels, fostering strong partnerships that support team and business goals

Essential Skills:

• Proven team leadership in a manufacturing environment, with experience leading, mentoring, and developing production teams to meet quality, cost, and delivery targets
• Excellent stakeholder and communication skills, capable of leading cross-functional collaboration
• Can demonstrate the ability to drive operational performance through effective resource planning, clear prioritisation, and proactive issue resolution

The Manufacturing Engineering Team:

As part of the Manufacturing Engineering team, you will play a pivotal role in supporting the manufacture of current and future products across our entire product range and the full programme lifecycle. Working closely with stakeholders across Manufacturing and Engineering you will use your knowledge and experiences to support our manufacturing systems and processes during initial bid, new product introduction, production and repair to ultimately ensure product quality is met within schedule and budget targets.

Why BAE Systems?

Here you’ll build a career with purpose and limitless possibilities. With lifelong learning and meaningful work, this is a place where you can grow your career with confidence and be empowered to be your best. You’ll be recognised for your contribution and enjoy rewards tailored to what’s most important to you and your family, support for your financial and personal wellbeing, as well as a balanced lifestyle. In an environment embracing sustainable ways of working and with a strong sense of shared purpose, our supportive culture is a place you can feel you belong and proud of the difference you make.

A place where everyone can thrive:

We’re committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We know that a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences strengthens our teams and is vital to the work we do.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date: 9th April 2026

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

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