Manufacturing Engineer – Paint

Coatham Mundeville
3 weeks ago
Create job alert

Manufacturing Engineer – Paint

Newton Aycliffe

£ Competitive

The DRVN Automotive Group are recruiting for a Manufacturing Engineer to oversee the Paint manufacturing process for a leading automotive company with stunning build workshops based in Newton Aycliffe. The Manufacturing Engineer will provide safe documented control systems, designed to facilitate Automotive manufacturing paint processes and methods, with a “Right First Time” methodical approach and a focus on quality.

Our client is experiencing a period of rapid growth having secured a long-term contract to build some of Ford Motor Company’s most historically significant icons. This role will suite a highly desirable car enthusiast, working for a company of fellow enthusiasts.

Overview of the Role

Manufacturing Engineer - Paint

Salary – £ Competitive DOE

Holidays: 33 Days

Pension

Employee Referral Scheme

40 hours per week Monday-Friday (early finish each Friday afternoon)

Location – Newton Aycliffe, just off the A1(M)

Ability to travel to Coventry 1 day per week

Company Overview

The DRVN Automotive Group are a sector leading automotive group, specialising in the design, manufacture, and distribution of luxury automotive brands, recognised globally for our commitment to innovation, quality, and engineering, centred around a world-class customer experience.

The DRVN group have made some major recent announcements to launch some of Ford Motor Company’s most historically significant icons kick starting with the RS200 and MK1 Escort, giving engineers an amazing platform to not only showcase their engineering and design skills across various disciplines, but to work on the most amazing modernisation programmes ever to be seen.

Situated in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, our North -East Site boasts a state-of-the-art production facility spanning 40,000 square feet. Equipped with specialised workshop bays dedicated to fabrication, bodywork and paint, our facility stands as a testament to our commitment to precision and quality. As we surge ahead, production at our facility is poised for rapid expansion throughout 2025, reflecting our unwavering dedication to growth and innovation.

Responsibilities

  • Company Policies: Manage and follow the quality, health, safety, and all policies of the company

  • Serve in a cross-functional environment with engineering, manufacturing, sourcing, product management and suppliers to optimise manufacturability

  • Design, implement, and optimise hand painting techniques tailored to low-volume, high-value vehicles, focusing on precision, aesthetic quality, and durability.

  • Ensure consistent application of custom finishes, such as special colour-matching, blending, and detailing techniques, while maintaining production schedules and quality standards

  • Ensure all painting tools (e.g., spray guns, brushes, and detailing equipment) are properly maintained, calibrated, and controlled for the hand painting process

  • Manage and maintain paint booth environments, controlling temperature, humidity, and air quality to control the paint application process and curing time to meet production takt times

  • Provide technical support to the production team, quickly identifying and resolving issues related to surface preparation, paint application, and curing processes.

  • Collaborate with the quality team to investigate root causes of defects and develop solutions to ensure the highest quality finish on each vehicle

  • Lead the development of custom paint techniques (e.g., airbrushing, fade effects, metallic and pearlescent coatings) for bespoke customer or design requests.

  • Work with the design team to understand specific paint requirements, ensuring that customer preferences are integrated into the manufacturing process

  • Ensure compliance with safety protocols in the paint preparation and painting process, including the handling of chemicals, solvents, and waste materials.

  • Implement and enforce safety measures, such as proper ventilation, personal protective equipment (PPE), and paint booth maintenance, to ensure a safe working environment

  • Prepare capital expenditure estimates for new product and existing product change by evaluation of equipment and tooling costs

  • Implementation and CI of documentation, production tooling, equipment, and operator training to meet standards and final sign-off requirements

  • Procure equipment, and materials through internal purchasing system

  • Document and concepts that include specification of equipment and make recommendations for the technical selection of purchased equipment

  • Introduce lean manufacturing principles to optimise effectiveness of the manufacturing operations

  • Support AME by Identifying, investigating, testing, and validating new innovative process technology and work methods to be implemented

  • Serve as a critical supplier to Manufacturing/Production, understanding their needs and able to effectively communicate to contain and resolve concerns and issues

  • Provide support to less experienced process engineers

  • May mentor other team members

  • Implement 5S initiatives.

    Essential Skills

    HNC qualification or equivalent in Manufacturing engineering or equivalent

    3-5 years of experience in manufacturing engineering, focusing on hand painting, paint preparation, or custom finishes for low-volume, high-value vehicles or luxury products. Strong background covering Manufacturing Engineering principles

    Strong understanding of paint materials, surface preparation, and paint application techniques.

    Proficient in using Microsoft Packages

    Be a strong advocate for Quality in the company and outside, with suppliers and other stakeholders

    An understanding of industry and regulatory requirements such Quality System Regulations (IATF16949, ISO9001, 5S, TPM, KPI’s)

    Experienced in generating standard work instructions, man assignments and process flows

    Able to identify risks, use problem-solving techniques, develop, and safely implement new processes within a production and manufacturing environment

    Experience with BOM’s and Change Management processes

    Understand lean manufacturing and 5S principles

    Proven ability to liaise and communicate with other departments, suppliers, and other service providers

    Lean experience and able to manage CI projects

    Ability to manage one’s own time and prioritise workload accordingly across multiple projects

    Be an effective team member, working with colleagues to ensure smooth workflow with maximum output

    Must have IDLR/Full Rights to Work in UK - Sponsorship or Work Permits will not be accepted/ provided.

    Desirable Skills

  • Experience Steel fabrications & carbon fibre bonding, competency in CAD design packages.

    Please note we do not provide sponsorships to those who require it and will only accept applications from those who have full rights to work in the UK with no restrictions and IDLR status. Please provide status on applications.

    Our inclusive workplace welcomes and values all candidates from all backgrounds, we believe that diversity enhances our ability to innovate and serve our customers effectively. We are an equal opportunity employer and strive to create an environment where everyone feels respected, supported, and able to bring their authentic selves to work. If you require any reasonable adjustments to participate in the recruitment process, please let us know, and we will do our best to accommodate your needs

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Manufacturing Engineer – Body in White

Continuous Improvement Manager

Production Process Engineer

CAD Design Engineer

Production Engineer

Mechanical Design Engineer

Get the latest insights and jobs direct. Sign up for our newsletter.

By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

How to Write a Winning Cover Letter for Semiconductor Jobs: Proven 4-Paragraph Structure

Learn how to craft the perfect cover letter for semiconductor jobs with this proven 4-paragraph structure. Ideal for entry-level candidates, career switchers, and professionals looking to advance in the semiconductor sector. When applying for a semiconductor job, your cover letter plays a crucial role in securing an interview. The semiconductor industry is a fast-evolving sector, and your cover letter provides you with the opportunity to demonstrate your expertise, problem-solving abilities, and passion for cutting-edge technology. Writing a cover letter for semiconductor roles can be challenging, but with the right structure, you can effectively highlight your strengths. Whether you're new to semiconductors, transitioning from another field, or looking to advance your career in this specialised sector, this article will guide you through a proven four-paragraph structure. We’ll provide sample lines and practical tips to help you create a compelling cover letter that stands out in the competitive semiconductor job market.

Rural-Remote Semiconductor Jobs: Innovation Beyond Urban Borders

A Fresh Outlook for Semiconductor Professionals Mention semiconductor jobs and many people instantly visualise state-of-the-art fabrication plants (fabs), sterile cleanrooms, and corporate campuses in or near big tech cities. While it’s true that silicon chips do require advanced manufacturing sites, the shift towards remote work—amplified by digital collaboration tools, cloud-based design systems, and global talent needs—now enables many roles in the semiconductor sector to exist beyond traditional urban technology corridors. At SemiconductorJobs.co.uk, we’re seeing an uptick in opportunities for professionals seeking “tech jobs by the sea” or “semiconductor remote countryside” positions. Newer tools and processes allow chip designers, EDA (Electronic Design Automation) specialists, and supply chain coordinators, among others, to operate from locations they prefer—be that a scenic rural hamlet or a rugged coastal town. The quest for a balanced, more affordable life is drawing highly skilled chip engineers, application developers, and managers out of city centres and into the UK’s picturesque regions. If you’ve ever pictured finishing a complex circuit design review, then stepping outside to rolling hills or the sound of ocean waves, this article is for you. Read on to discover why rural or coastal living doesn’t mean sacrificing cutting-edge career prospects, how to navigate potential challenges, and how to find (or create) your dream rural-remote semiconductor role.

Quantum-Enhanced AI in Semiconductors—Powering the Next Era of Microelectronics

The semiconductor industry is the backbone of modern technology, underpinning everything from smartphones and cloud servers to automotive electronics and advanced robotics. Over decades, semiconductor manufacturing has followed Moore’s Law, consistently increasing transistor density while reducing cost. Yet as we approach sub-nanometre scales, conventional semiconductor techniques face monumental challenges in design, fabrication, and materials science. Coupled with soaring demand for more powerful and energy-efficient chips, the industry must explore breakthroughs beyond classical approaches. Enter quantum computing—a frontier technology harnessing the strange properties of quantum mechanics to perform certain computations at potentially exponential speed-ups. Paired with Artificial Intelligence (AI), quantum hardware might expedite complex tasks like design-space exploration, lithography simulation, advanced testing, and yield optimisation. If harnessed effectively, quantum-enhanced AI could help transcend the current limits of chip performance and open new architectural paradigms for next-gen electronics. In this article, we will: Examine the current state of the semiconductor industry, including why classical methods are hitting bottlenecks. Introduce quantum computing fundamentals—why qubits differ from bits and how they could boost AI. Explore how quantum-enhanced AI can address semiconductor challenges, from chip design to supply chain optimisation. Highlight real-world pilot projects, potential near-term successes, and the main hurdles (like noisy quantum hardware). Discuss the emerging career paths and skill sets that will be crucial for professionals aiming to stand out in an era of quantum-driven semiconductor innovation. Whether you’re a semiconductor engineer, a data scientist in chip R&D, or simply curious about the intersection of hardware and quantum technologies, read on. Quantum-enhanced AI might reshape every aspect of semiconductor design, fabrication, and testing, propelling electronics into uncharted territory. The semiconductor industry is the backbone of modern technology, underpinning everything from smartphones and cloud servers to automotive electronics and advanced robotics. Over decades, semiconductor manufacturing has followed Moore’s Law, consistently increasing transistor density while reducing cost. Yet as we approach sub-nanometre scales, conventional semiconductor techniques face monumental challenges in design, fabrication, and materials science. Coupled with soaring demand for more powerful and energy-efficient chips, the industry must explore breakthroughs beyond classical approaches. Enter quantum computing—a frontier technology harnessing the strange properties of quantum mechanics to perform certain computations at potentially exponential speed-ups. Paired with Artificial Intelligence (AI), quantum hardware might expedite complex tasks like design-space exploration, lithography simulation, advanced testing, and yield optimisation. If harnessed effectively, quantum-enhanced AI could help transcend the current limits of chip performance and open new architectural paradigms for next-gen electronics. In this article, we will: Examine the current state of the semiconductor industry, including why classical methods are hitting bottlenecks. Introduce quantum computing fundamentals—why qubits differ from bits and how they could boost AI. Explore how quantum-enhanced AI can address semiconductor challenges, from chip design to supply chain optimisation. Highlight real-world pilot projects, potential near-term successes, and the main hurdles (like noisy quantum hardware). Discuss the emerging career paths and skill sets that will be crucial for professionals aiming to stand out in an era of quantum-driven semiconductor innovation. Whether you’re a semiconductor engineer, a data scientist in chip R&D, or simply curious about the intersection of hardware and quantum technologies, read on. Quantum-enhanced AI might reshape every aspect of semiconductor design, fabrication, and testing, propelling electronics into uncharted territory.