Manufacturing Engineer

The aircraft already flies. Building it at scale, identically and at pace, is the sovereign capability the UK needs to defend itself and its allies, and the part most defence programmes never get right. That problem is yours.

Minerva Defence is a UK sovereign defence technology company building the full stack of unmanned systems for modern warfare: hardware, software, networking, autonomy, navigation and effectors. Our mission is simple: to help ensure the UK and its allies can defend themselves in an era where major conflict is no longer unthinkable.

We are deliberately low-profile: no hype, no performative marketing, just execution. We ideate, design, and manufacture from start to finish right here in the UK. Our products are in active use on the battlefield today, delivering real operational impact in the most demanding environments. Despite operating largely in stealth, our team of 60 people is delivering disproportionate effect, with tens of millions in annual revenue across UK and non-UK customers.

Our culture is elite, innovative and mission-focused. We are built to be asymmetric: small in headcount, relentless in execution, and outsized in battlefield impact. We are looking for people who are not just talented, but committed: to the work, to the team, and to the purpose behind it.

This role sits at the point where design intent becomes production reality. You will own the tooling, the processes and the production systems that turn an engineered product into something built repeatedly, reliably and at pace. The gap between a design and a product in the field is weeks, not years, so you will see what you build reach production fast. You will help rebuild the sovereign manufacturing capability the UK has spent two decades letting atrophy, on technology at the genuine cutting edge of what is possible. It is work you will be proud of, even if you cannot talk about it.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop and validate jigs, fixtures and production tooling to support assembly and manufacture of precision components
• Define and own manufacturing processes, work instructions and production standards across assigned areas
• Lead process improvement initiatives, applying lean principles to increase throughput, reduce waste and improve consistency
• Work closely with design engineers to drive design for manufacture (DFM) and design for assembly (DFA) from the earliest stages of development
• Support new product introduction, ensuring manufacturing readiness ahead of production release
• Investigate and resolve production issues using structured root cause analysis techniques
• Develop and maintain accurate process documentation, including routings, BOMs and control plans
• Contribute to the development of manufacturing capability, processes, and standards as the function scales

Requirements

Minimum:

• Demonstrable experience in a manufacturing engineering role, including process ownership and tooling development
• Experience designing jigs, fixtures or production tooling in 3D CAD
• Practical understanding of precision assembly, machining or fabrication processes
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, including GD&T
• Hands-on experience assembling, testing, or troubleshooting mechanical and electromechanical systems
• Degree in mechanical, manufacturing or production engineering, or a closely related discipline

Preferred:

• Tooling and fixture design in SolidWorks specifically
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing and structured problem solving such as 8D or 5 Why
• Experience in aerospace, defence, or another high-reliability, low-volume high-complexity environment
• Experience working closely with design engineering teams on DFM and DFA
• Comfortable spending significant time on the shop floor, building, testing and improving processes first-hand
• Hands-on experience assembling, testing, or troubleshooting mechanical and electromechanical systems

Benefits

We try to take the everyday pressures off your plate, so you can do your best work without worrying about the noise, and the benefits are built around that. It starts with real ownership: share options that vest over three years, so you hold a genuine stake in what we are building. You get a Claude Team account on day one and tools that keep up with you. Bupa private health is fully funded from your first day, the pension is a 6% employer contribution, and leave is generous, with 25 days plus bank holidays, your birthday off, and properly enhanced cover for both parents. The full detail comes with your offer.