ETL Systems Ltd
Manufacturing Engineer
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Role Overview
This is a hybrid Manufacturing Engineering role supporting the production and introduction of low-volume, high-complexity Travelling Wave Tube Amplifier (TWTA) based products. The successful candidate will act as the technical bridge between design and production, guiding new and revised products through the full first-off manufacture and test cycle.
The Ideal Candidate
The role requires an experienced engineer who can work autonomously. While no prior experience with TWTA technology is required, a strong foundation in general engineering, covering both electronics and mechanical engineering principles is essential. The engineer will quickly develop TWTA product knowledge on the job and be expected to apply that knowledge to identify faults, implement and document corrective actions, and feed structured design improvement recommendations back to the design team.
Key Accountabilities
First-Off Manufacture & New Product Introduction
- Lead the first-off build and test of new and design-modified TWTA products, from initial kit receipt through to completed system-level test.
- Define and establish the production process for new products entering the manufacturing environment, including work instructions, build sequences, and test procedures.
- Identify and resolve manufacturability issues early in the production cycle, ensuring that lessons learned are documented and acted upon before volume or repeat builds.
- Collaborate with the design team during design reviews and engineering change assessments to provide manufacturing and test input prior to release.
Fault Finding & Technical Resolution
- Diagnose and resolve complex electronic faults encountered during manufacture and test, working independently to root-cause failures at component, board, and system level.
- Apply structured fault-finding methodologies (functional analysis, signal tracing, schematic analysis) across analogue power electronics, RF assemblies, control electronics, and embedded systems.
- Interface with test equipment including oscilloscopes, spectrum analysers, network analysers, power meters, and automated test systems to characterise and diagnose product behaviour.
- Distinguish between design faults, workmanship faults, and component failures, and ensure each is addressed through the appropriate corrective channel.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Engineering Change & Design Feedback
- Raise clear, technically substantiated Engineering Change Requests (ECRs) when design issues are identified during manufacture or test.
- Work closely with design engineers to evaluate proposed changes for manufacturing feasibility, providing practical feedback on assembly complexity, tolerances, and test access.
- Maintain and update controlled manufacturing documentation including assembly drawings, wiring schedules, test procedures, and build records in line with the engineering change process.
- Provide structured hand-back reports at the conclusion of each first-off programme, capturing all actions, resolutions, and outstanding design recommendations.
Industrialisation & Continuous Improvement
- Define and drive the industrialisation roadmap for transitioning products from prototype or low-volume status to a repeatable, controlled production process.
- Identify opportunities to reduce build time, improve yield, and simplify test processes without compromising product integrity or traceability.
- Develop and maintain Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) assessments for new products, coordinating actions required to advance maturity.
- Support the introduction of tooling, fixtures, and specialist equipment required for efficient and repeatable manufacture of TWTA products.
- Produce, and maintain manufacturing “Routings” supporting system generated “Job Cards” for planning, production, and quality purposes.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Desirables
- Experience with high-voltage electronics or vacuum electron devices (magnetrons, klystrons, TWTs, or similar).
- Background in satellite communications, radar, EW, or defence electronics where TWTA products are commonly employed.
- Familiarity with FRACAS (Failure Reporting, Analysis and Corrective Action System) processes.
- Experience with ERP or MRP systems for tracking build records and material traceability.
- Exposure to FMEA, process FMEA, or DFM/DFT activities in a product introduction context.
- SC or higher security clearance already held.
- HNC/HND or BEng/MEng in Electronics, Electrical & Electronic Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
- Equivalent qualification through apprenticeship and demonstrable technical experience will be considered.
- IPC-A-610 Certified IIS or CIS is advantageous.
Location
This role requires you to work on-site at our modern manufacturing facility in Hook, 3 minutes off junction 5 of the M3 - Before applying, please make sure you can commute to Unit 4, Bartley Point, Osborn Way, Hook RG27 9GX
Closing date
At ETL, we always prioritise efficiency in everything we do. With this in mind, we are looking to commence our interview process without delay and reserve the right to close the opening early should we receive suitable applications.
BPSS Compliant
Due to the nature of our work, all roles require candidates to be BPSS compliant.
VISA Sponsorship
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.
Agency notice
We are sourcing suitable candidates for this role directly via our internal referral programme, direct marketing, and talent team. Please note that we do not accept speculative CVs from external suppliers.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location