Industrial Process Engineering Technician

Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.

Industrial Process Engineering Technician
Location: Templecombe
Working Pattern: Four-day week (Monday to Thursday)

This is a full-time position, working 37 hours per week over four days (Monday to Thursday). The role offers some flexibility in start times, typically between 6:00am and 7:30am, with working days of 9.25 hours.

This is an onsite role.

We are seeking an Industrial Process Engineering Technician to provide first-line support to the shopfloor. Working alongside Industrial Process Engineers, you will help identify innovative solutions to day-to-day production challenges and bring fresh perspectives to more complex technical issues.

The successful candidate will support daily production activities, help manage non-conformances and assist in resolving manufacturing-related technical issues to ensure efficient and effective operations.

This is an entry-level role within the Industrial Process Engineering (IPE) team, offering an excellent opportunity to develop and progress within the company. You will work closely with the IPE team and wider functions across Thales and will be predominantly based and sat on the shopfloor.

This role will entail working within a manufacturing environment that includes electrical/electronic/mechanical build, assembly and test activities, it is desired that the successful candidate will bring a general working knowledge of manufacturing techniques and processes across some of these disciplines, which will be developed further through the role.

As an entry-level member of the team, the Industrial Process Engineering Technician will work under the guidance of Industrial Process Engineers. You will contribute to broader manufacturing discussions and help promote best practice across Industry, Engineering and Project teams, particularly in relation to non-conformance management and problem resolution. Over time, the role will enable you to build knowledge, develop capability and gradually take ownership of a wider workload.

The role requires alignment with wider business objectives and the manufacturing cell’s industrial strategy. You will support improvements in quality, efficiency and the reduction of non-conformances, with a genuine drive and enthusiasm for continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Be a key point of contact on the shopfloor, helping to spot and resolve day-to-day manufacturing issues and non-conformances, and coordinating with other Industrial Process Engineers (IPEs) when needed.

• Hold Material Review Boards (MRBs) Organise and coordinate Material Review Boards (MRBs), working collaboratively across functions to manage production failures and configuration changes.

• Help identify and suggest improvements to manufacturing processes, working methods and documentation to make production activities run smoother, improving efficiency and quality and keeping aligned with project needs.
• Support survey, repair and refurbishment activities for items that are returned to the work cell, following the required processes and guidance.
• Contribute to continuous improvement by looking for opportunities to improve ways of working across the manufacturing function.
• Support Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) best practice in daily activities, ensuring work is carried out safely and in line with regulations.
• Help identify and reduce manufacturing risk, escalating concerns appropriately and learning how risks are assessed and managed.
• Learn to use ERP and data management systems to help with daily tasks. Over time, you will build towards supporting data packs on behalf of Industry, including areas like design for manufacture, routing creation, and Bill of Materials (BOM) management.
• Learn on the job from experienced team members, building your skills in problem-solving, non-conformance handling, and manufacturing techniques.
• Get involved in the wider IPE team and its processes, building your understanding and confidence so you can contribute more over time.

About You

You will have some proven experience within manufacturing, ideally within one or more of the following disciplines electrical/electronic assembly, mechanical assembly or production test environments. You will also bring:

• Some experience within low- to medium-volume light mechanical, electro-mechanical or electronics manufacturing environments with either time served or similar role held.
• Experience or awareness of continuous improvement methodologies and manufacturing techniques.
• An understanding of manufacturing systems and processes, including routings, BOMs, concessions and change requests.
• Process knowledge across assembly and test activities.
• Good communication and technical documentation skills.
• Effective time management skills.
• Pragmatic and forward-thinking approach when addressing problems.
• The ability to follow processes and instructions.

At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.

If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. Join the Talent Community here.

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