Production Manager – Precision Engineering

Location: North Essex
Salary: £60,000 – £70,000 + Senior Leadership Team benefits
Reports to: General Manager
Direct Reports: Planner, Team Leaders & Machinists (20+, growing)

Join a Growing, High-Performance Engineering Business

Our client is an expanding, and we are looking for a forward-thinking Production Manager to join a Senior Leadership Team. This is a key strategic role within a mixed manufacturing environment that spans own-product volume manufacture, high-spec subcontract work, NPI handover, aerospace and defence production.

If you’re a strong operational leader with deep technical credibility and a passion for driving performance, quality and continuous improvement, we want to hear from you.

The Opportunity

As Production Manager, you will take full ownership of:

Daily production output and operational stability

Continuous improvement and lean optimisation

Developing a high-performing, multi-skilled production team

Ensuring compliance with aerospace/defence standards including AS9100

Supporting company growth and strategic decision-making

You’ll work closely with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Planning and the wider SLT to build a scalable, efficient, right-first-time production environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to business strategy, growth plans and operational improvement.
• Present clear KPI reporting and performance trends.
• Own production performance, workflow stability and capacity planning.
• Oversee smooth NPI handovers and eliminate bottlenecks through structured corrective action.
• Maintain compliance with AS9100 or equivalent aerospace standards.
• Embed a zero-compromise, right-first-time quality culture.
• Lead, coach and develop a skilled team of machinists and team leaders.
• Conduct performance reviews and address underperformance effectively.
• Improve labour productivity, machine utilisation and reduce scrap/rework.
• Protect margins across subcontract and own-product manufacturing.

Experience & Qualifications

We are looking for someone with:

• 5+ years’ production leadership in precision engineering
• Experience in aerospace and/or defence manufacturing
• Strong understanding of CNC milling, turning and high-spec component manufacture
• Confidence using ERP/MRP systems and Excel for KPI reporting
• Background managing teams of skilled machinists

Apply Now

This is a fantastic opportunity to step into a senior role within a rapidly growing engineering business where your leadership will have a direct impact on performance, culture and future success.

If you're ready to take on this challenge, we’d love to speak with you.

Apply today or contact us for a confidential discussion.