Advanced Manufacturing Engineer – Body, Chassis & Powertrain - 3 month contract
Lotus UK Manufacturing · Norwich, United Kingdom
Body, Chassis & PowertrainDepartment: Advanced Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering
Contract: 3-month Fixed-Term Contract, with potential for extension subject to business requirements and review
Positions Available: 3 (Body, Chassis and Powertrain)
Reports to: Advanced Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering Manager
About the RoleWe are looking for three experienced Advanced Manufacturing Engineers to join Lotus, supporting an exciting vehicle programme across our Body, Chassis and Powertrain manufacturing areas.
This is an opportunity to play a key role in the industrialisation and delivery of a new vehicle programme, taking ownership of manufacturing processes from initial concept and development through to equipment installation, vehicle builds and production readiness.
Working closely with Product Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Production, Logistics, Facilities, Purchasing and external suppliers, you will help develop robust, safe and efficient manufacturing solutions that support programme delivery.
We are recruiting across three specialist areas: Body, Chassis and Powertrain, and welcome applications from candidates with relevant experience in any of these disciplines.
What You'll Be DoingManufacturing Process Development
- Take ownership of Advanced Manufacturing Engineering deliverables within your specialist area.
- Develop manufacturing concepts, process flows, assembly sequences and build strategies.
- Translate engineering designs and product requirements into practical manufacturing solutions.
- Provide Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) input to support product development.
- Identify manufacturing constraints and influence product design to improve assembly efficiency and repeatability.
- Define process requirements, manufacturing parameters and supporting documentation.
Equipment, Tooling & Facilities
- Define requirements for manufacturing equipment, tooling, fixtures and facilities.
- Develop technical specifications and Statements of Requirements.
- Support equipment supplier selection, technical reviews and make-versus-buy assessments.
- Coordinate engineering activities relating to equipment design, manufacture, installation and commissioning.
- Ensure manufacturing equipment and processes meet quality, safety, ergonomic and programme requirements.
- Work with Industrial Engineering teams to integrate manufacturing processes into the production facility.
Manufacturing Quality & Risk Management
- Develop and maintain Process FMEAs (PFMEAs) and manufacturing risk assessments.
- Identify potential manufacturing risks and implement mitigation plans.
- Define critical process characteristics and manufacturing controls.
- Support process validation, dimensional accuracy and manufacturing capability activities.
- Apply structured problem-solving and root-cause analysis to resolve manufacturing challenges.
Programme Delivery & Build Support
- Support prototype, pilot, pre-production and production build activities.
- Provide hands-on engineering support during vehicle builds.
- Lead the resolution of manufacturing issues within your assigned area.
- Monitor engineering actions, risks and deliverables against programme milestones.
- Communicate manufacturing readiness and escalate significant risks where necessary.
- Support production launch and manufacturing ramp-up activities.
Our Specialist OpportunitiesWe have three positions available, each focusing on a different aspect of vehicle manufacturing.
Advanced Manufacturing Engineer – Body
You will focus on manufacturing processes associated with vehicle body structures and body assembly.
Relevant experience may include:
- Body-in-White (BIW) and structural assembly.
- Aluminium and steel body structures.
- Bonding, riveting, fastening and joining technologies.
- Body assembly processes, sequences and tooling.
- Jigs, fixtures, dimensional control and tolerances.
- Closures and structural component installation.
- Low- or medium-volume body manufacturing.
Advanced Manufacturing Engineer – Chassis
You will focus on manufacturing processes associated with chassis assembly and vehicle mechanical systems.
Relevant experience may include:
- Front and rear suspension systems.
- Subframes and structural chassis components.
- Steering and braking systems.
- Wheels, tyres, chassis alignment and vehicle geometry.
- Underbody assembly and installation.
- Torque-controlled and safety-critical fastening processes.
- Assembly tooling, fastening equipment and fluid filling processes.
Advanced Manufacturing Engineer – Powertrain
You will focus on powertrain installation, manufacturing processes and vehicle integration.
Relevant experience may include:
- Internal combustion, hybrid and electric vehicle powertrains.
- Engine, electric motor and transmission installation.
- Powertrain mounting and cooling systems.
- Fuel systems and fluid filling processes.
- High-voltage batteries, power electronics and associated components.
- Electrical and mechanical connections.
- Powertrain assembly tooling.
- End-of-line testing and functional verification.
Experience with high-voltage safety and electrified powertrain manufacturing would be particularly advantageous.
What We're Looking ForEssential Experience & Skills
- Manufacturing Engineering experience within automotive or a comparable complex manufacturing environment.
- Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI), vehicle programmes or significant product changes.
- Proven experience developing and implementing manufacturing processes.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing industrialisation and process development.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, CAD data and technical specifications.
- Experience defining manufacturing equipment, tooling or fixture requirements.
- Practical knowledge of PFMEA and manufacturing risk management.
- Experience supporting prototype, pilot or production builds.
- Strong problem-solving and root-cause analysis skills.
- Ability to manage engineering deliverables against programme deadlines.
- Excellent communication and cross-functional stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to work independently and take ownership of a defined manufacturing area.
- Working knowledge and practical experience of Teamcenter, including product data, engineering changes and manufacturing information management.
Desirable Experience
- Automotive OEM or Tier 1 supplier background.
- Vehicle launch or NPI programme experience.
- Low- or medium-volume vehicle manufacturing.
- Equipment procurement, installation and commissioning.
- Knowledge of APQP, PPAP and manufacturing readiness processes.
- Experience managing engineering or equipment suppliers.
- Understanding of Industrial Engineering, ergonomics and line balancing.
- Experience working within structured programme gateway environments.
QualificationsA degree, HNC/HND or equivalent qualification in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering or a related discipline is desirable. Equivalent relevant industry experience will also be considered.
- This role will ideally be based at our HQ in Hethel full-time
Our Company:
Group Lotus is a leading sports car manufacturer with over 75-year long history of iconic designs, groundbreaking engineering and legendary victories on the F1 track. Today we are transforming into a truly global performance car brand focused on the electrical future. In 2022 we launched the Eletre, the world’s first all-electric hyper-SUV, and in 2023 our fully-electric Hyper-GT, Emeya.
As part of the Lotus team, you push boundaries. Those of the car industry and of your own. Every member of the Lotus family has some of the pioneering mindset of founder Colin Chapman in them.
Hethel, Norfolk, England has been the home of Lotus for over 60 years, ever since Colin Chapman, our founder, started making championship-winni