The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is undergoing a significant transformation as part of its industrial strategy. This includes the closure of the Inshore Lifeboat Centre in East Cowes and the transfer of its work to the All-weather Lifeboat Centre in Poole. 

This role will play a key part in delivering this transition, ensuring a safe, effective and timely transfer of production capability by the end of 2027. 

Join us in shaping the future of lifeboat manufacturing and help save lives at sea. 

As a Senior Manufacturing Engineer, you will: 

• Lead the development and optimisation of manufacturing processes across Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) production facilities 
• Develop and maintain standardised manufacturing methods, process documentation, and Bills of Process 
• Design and specify tooling, fixtures and equipment to support safe and efficient build 
• Lead complex problem-solving activities related to manufacturing and process performance 
• Drive cross-site Continuous Improvement initiatives to improve flow, quality and productivity 
• Assess manufacturing capability, capacity and process performance, identifying opportunities for improvement and investment 
• Ensure effective implementation of engineering changes from a manufacturing perspective 

For the full job description, including the keys areas of responsibilities and accountabilities, please click the 'apply now' button. 

Our staff and volunteers have been saving lives at sea without prejudice for 200 years. We respect and value diversity of background, skills and perspectives within our teams, and consider it essential to help us deliver a world-class lifesaving service. We are an inclusive organisation and welcome applications from everyone. In addition to having the skills needed for the role, we also look for applicants who share our commitment to living our RNLI values (trustworthy, courageous, selfless, and dependable), and helping us work towards Our Vision: To save Every One.

You’ll be a technically strong and collaborative engineer who enjoys developing and improving manufacturing processes, coaching others and leading cross-site initiatives. To be considered as Senior Manufacturing Engineer, you will need: 

• Significant experience in a manufacturing or process engineering role, ideally involving composite structures, marine products or low-volume technical manufacturing.  
• Strong experience developing manufacturing processes, tooling, verification activities and process documentation.  
• Demonstrated ability to lead manufacturing engineering tasks and cross-functional projects.  
• Proven competence in Lean and CI tools, including Standardised Work, 6S, flow mapping, and structured problem solving.