Principal Industrialisation / Process Engineer

About the Role

This role is part of Ricardo's Performance Products NPI team, supporting New Product Introduction projects across a range of niche products for premium brand customers. It involves applying process engineering and project leadership skills in a dynamic, hands on manufacturing environment, driving the industrialisation of new products and variants. Responsibilities include leading NPI projects, managing facilities, suppliers, quality, and processes, and supporting the wider team in delivering new products and securing customers across sectors including Automotive, Marine, Rail, Aerospace, and Green Propulsion.

Key Responsibilities

• Leading technical, process engineering, and project management activities for industrialisation and consultancy projects.
• Developing, implementing, and maintaining manufacturing process documentation (DFA/DFM, Build Processes/manuals, Process Control Plans, PFMEAs, Risk Assessments, Safety Systems, Launch Readiness).
• Designing equipment, facility layouts, and material flows, and estimating component, assembly, and equipment costs and time.
• Specifying, procuring, commissioning, installing, and validating tooling and equipment to meet production efficiency and reliability targets.
• Supporting prototype builds, early validation of production processes, and development of assembly work standards for handover to production teams.
• Driving continuous improvement of manufacturing processes to meet cost, quality, and delivery targets.
• Ensuring supplier and assembly quality, including audits and adherence to APQP/PPAP requirements for new products, suppliers, and components.
• Reporting internally and to customers on project and launch readiness status.
• Supporting business development and preparing case studies, technical material, and proposals for new opportunities.
• Experience in industrialisation, supply chain, and quality assurance processes, preferably in the automotive sector.
• Flexibility to travel domestically and internationally to suppliers and customers.

Key Competencies and Experience

• Experience of manufacturing project leadership in a niche assembly sector
• Automotive, Marine, Aerospace and Green technology environment background with experience of automotive technology and product development including Vehicle and Powertrain Systems (ICE and electrification)
• Experience with various manufacturing processes and components deployed in assembly (DFMEA, PFMEA, Control Plans, Capability studies (gauge R&R), Work instructions and equipment handover) & quality gates (e.g. End of Line testing)
• Industrialisation and Launch Readiness leadership and experience
• Aware of and committed to best practice manufacturing practice and processes.
• Hands on experience of lean manufacturing
• Design & CAD experience for tooling & fixtures, virtual builds, factory layouts (2d/3d) and assembly equipment.
• Experience of automotive quality systems and delivery standards including NCRs, concessions, containment actions
• Understanding of relevant manufacturing methods, detailed drawings, and GD&T
• Understanding in Supplier Quality including APQP and PPAP of components (including ISO9000 & IATF16949)

Desirable Competencies and Experience

• Chartered Engineer
• Qualified IATF Auditor
• Experience in component and equipment cost estimating.
• Experience in project management and commercial management
• Experience in PLC, MES and vision systems
• Familiarity with ERP/MRP business systems (e.g., Baan/SAP) and Excel

Benefits

We will provide a range of benefits including support for your physical and mental health. Our core benefits include 25 days' annual leave, plus 8 flexible bank holidays, a competitive company pension scheme, life assurance and professional subscriptions reimbursement. We also offer a wide range of flexible benefits to suit your lifestyle.

Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion statement

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person's potential, and we'll help you reach yours. We have an ambitious diversity, equality, and inclusion approach as explained here. We value diversity; recognising that a more diverse workforce creates a richer and more varied working environment. Diversity also drives innovation, by allowing us to offer our clients the best consultancy service that we can. As part of our commitment to engage positively and pro actively with all our employees and to ensure an inclusive culture, we are a recognised as a 'disability confident' employer.