Manufacturing Test Team Leader

Location: Templecombe, United Kingdom

Thales people provide armed forces customers with operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defence mission systems solutions at land, sea, and air. Our platforms extend across the battlespace including Above and Sonar, Electronic Combat, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Manufacturing Test Team Leader
4 day working week - Monday to Thursday - 9.25 hours per day

Our Opportunity

Step into a key leadership role where you’ll guide a talented team of assembly, repair, and test technicians, ensuring the seamless production and refurbishment of both customer and development products. You’ll champion high standards of quality, precision, and teamwork, helping to deliver exceptional results across every project.

You’ll also play a vital part in supporting the Autonomous Production and/or Repair Unit (APRU) Manager—coordinating task distribution, overseeing workflow, and taking ownership of the work carried out across the team to keep operations running smoothly and efficiently.

What the role has to offer:

• To support the APRU Manager in driving delivery and ensuring that production/repair items are progressed efficiently to achieve the plan.

• Support the APRU in resolution of problems to achieving Quality Cost Delivery (QCD) requirements and escalation where required

• Ensure team follows the defined process for the relevant production/repair activity (e.g. material flow, work instructions, routing, tooling)

• Ensure team follows general processes in line with role (e.g. raising non-conformances, completing route-cards, timesheets etc).

• To maintain expected HS&E standards appropriate to the activities and ensure PPE is worn in line with risk assessments and COSHH requirements.

• Encourage teams to identify and implement improvements using lean methodology.

• Conduct regular check-ins with team members to review objectives and complete year-end review

• Support the APRU Manager in identifying training needs of the team and maintain training matrix

• Ensure availability of Tooling/Test Equipment is present and calibrated at the point of use.

• Recruit, lead, develop, encourage and support the team.

About You

We’re looking for a confident, proactive leader who brings both technical expertise and a people‑first mindset to the shop floor. You’ll thrive in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment and set the tone for quality, safety, and continuous improvement across your team.

You will bring:

• Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage clearly and professionally at all levels—both verbally and in writing

• Exceptional attention to detail, ensuring all work is completed accurately, safely, and in line with quality and governance standards

• A proactive approach, using your initiative to identify, define, and drive improvement activities

• The ability to work independently while inspiring, guiding, and developing a high‑performing team

• Experience successfully leading teams in a manufacturing or production environment

• Broad manufacturing knowledge, enabling you to coach others and ensure the most effective methods and processes are used

• Strong organisational and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks and manage competing demands

• A commitment to fostering a positive, collaborative, and accountable team culture

This role will require SC Clearance. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant will undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance.  Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance.

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years.  In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the National Security Vetting (NSV) Agency - United Kingdom Security Vetting - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

Great journeys start here, apply now!