BAE Systems
Manufacturing Engineer – Estimator
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Job Title: Manufacturing Engineer – Estimator
Location: Rochester; Kent; Onsite
Salary: Circa £40,000 depending on experience
Who we are:
Join BAE Systems and you’ll be part of something bigger. As a valued member of our global colleague network, you’ll bring your unique skills and perspectives to help pioneer progress and protect what matters most. You’ll be trusted to play your part in delivering the advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions of tomorrow, shaping a safer future, for all of us.
From the depths of the ocean, to the far reaches of space, there’s no limit to where a career at BAE Systems could take you.
Job Description:
Working closely with the bid team, the Manufacturing Engineer will ensure that requirements are understood and flowed down through the operations and supply chain, and agree achievable timescales for provision of estimates. Take on a dynamic role where you’ll create high‑impact, cost‑effective estimates that shape winning proposals, collaborate closely with operations and supply chain teams, support customer and supplier fact‑finding, and influence key bid decisions. You’ll help drive continuous improvement by analysing build and support activity durations, while tracking material costs and build times to reveal true production costs as designs evolve, playing a vital part in turning innovative ideas into deliverable solutions.
Core duties:
- Coordinating inputs from operations and supply chain, producing high quality, achievable and cost-effective estimates for the provision of required services and products in support of the customer proposal
- Supporting fact finds by our customers for our estimates and also to support fact finds of our suppliers cost base
- Supporting the various phases of the bid review and approval process, and be able to articulate the content and basis of our estimates in a professional manner
- Reviewing build times & support activity durations, estimating future targets and working to improve processes
- Tracking material costs and build times during the development phase as the design matures to understand the true production cost
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Essential Skills:
- Demonstrated ability to create detailed Manufacturing Build Instructions, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and tooling/fixturing designs
- Understanding the transition of designs from development to full-scale manufacturing, ensuring Design for Manufacture (DFM)
- Proven experience using systems like SAP, Oracle, or Epicor to manage complex Bills of Materials (BOMs)
- Qualification in a relevant engineering discipline or time served in a similar role and/or CIPS Qualification (advantageous)
The Manufacturing Engineering Team:
As part of the Manufacturing Engineering team, you will play a pivotal role in supporting the manufacture of current and future products across our entire product range and the full programme lifecycle. Working closely with stakeholders across Manufacturing and Engineering you will use your knowledge and experiences to support our manufacturing systems and processes during initial bid, new product introduction, production and repair to ultimately ensure product quality is met within schedule and budget targets.
Why BAE Systems?
Here you’ll build a career with purpose and limitless possibilities. With lifelong learning and meaningful work, this is a place where you can grow your career with confidence and be empowered to be your best. You’ll be recognised for your contribution and enjoy rewards tailored to what’s most important to you and your family, support for your financial and personal wellbeing, as well as a balanced lifestyle. In an environment embracing sustainable ways of working and with a strong sense of shared purpose, our supportive culture is a place you can feel you belong and proud of the difference you make.
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A place where everyone can thrive:
We’re committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We know that a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences strengthens our teams and is vital to the work we do.
Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.
Closing Date: 16th September 2026
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
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