Contract Manufacturing Engineering Manager - PCBA

Rate: up to £60 per hour, outside IR35

Contract length: 12 months initially

A leading electronics organisation in Horsham is seeking a Manufacturing Engineering Manager to lead the electronics manufacturing engineering function responsible for PCBA production used in complex electronic equipment.

This role is critical in shaping the future of the company's electronics manufacturing capability, including defining production processes, selecting equipment, and leading new product introductions into manufacturing.

The Role

You will lead the manufacturing engineering team responsible for PCB assembly processes, ensuring robust, scalable manufacturing capability for new and existing products.

You will also act as the technical authority for electronics assembly, advising the wider business on process capability, equipment investment, and manufacturing strategy.

Key responsibilities:

Managing a team of Manufacturing Engineers and Technicians
Leading introduction of new electronic products into production
Defining and optimising PCBA manufacturing processes
Providing technical leadership across SMT and through-hole assembly technologies
Selecting and specifying electronics manufacturing equipment
Supporting manufacturing improvements and process optimisation
Working with ERP/MRP systems (preferably SAP) to define:
Bills of Materials (BOM)
Manufacturing routings
Acting as the internal expert on PCBA manufacturing processes
Supporting troubleshooting and root cause analysis of production issues

Required Experience

Strong background in PCBA manufacturing
Experience with Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Through-Hole assembly
Leadership or management experience within manufacturing engineering
Experience introducing new electronic products into production
Knowledge of electronics assembly equipment and process selection
Experience working with ERP/MRP systems (ideally SAP)

Ideal Candidate

You may currently be:

A Manufacturing Engineering Manager in electronics manufacturing
A Senior Manufacturing Engineer / Lead Engineer ready to step into management