Who We Are
NorthQuest Engineering Ltd is a UK precision wiring harness manufacturer experiencing rapid growth, delivering to automotive and defence customers and expanding into rail. As we scale production volume and capability, we're investing in refining our processes, tooling, and standards, giving the right candidate genuine scope to shape how manufacturing operations run as the business grows.
What You'll Do
As Harness Build Team Leader, you'll lead the people, delivery, and quality of the harness build cell day to day, while remaining hands-on at the bench (typically around 50-60% of your time, balanced against leadership demand as the team grows).
Responsibilities
Leadership & People Management
Provide day-to-day supervision of Harness Build Operators, including attendance, conduct, performance, and basic 1:1s.
- Training & Development: Onboard and train new operators on work instructions, tooling, and build standards; identify skills gaps and feed training needs upward.
- Team & Workload Management: Allocate work across operators based on skill, capacity, and priority, and own the day-to-day running of manufacturing operations.
- Delivery Management: Run the daily/weekly build schedule against the BOM and customer delivery dates, maintaining visibility of WIP and flagging shortages before they impact delivery.
Process Ownership & Continuous Improvement
- Lean & Process Improvement: Apply lean principles (5S, standardised work, flow, waste elimination) to harness build layout, sequencing, and fixture/build-board design.
- Work Instructions: Work with Engineering to develop, trial, and update operator work instructions and build standards.
- Quality Control: Conduct in-process inspection and final test before release, owning non-conformance capture and feeding findings back into work instructions.
Hands-On Build
- Build & Assembly: Assemble wiring harnesses and panel wiring to IPC/WHMA-A-620 standards, including crimping, routing, and connector termination, as part of the build team.
- Documentation: Accurately document assembly procedures, test results, and deviations from standard practice, maintaining full traceability.
Health, Safety & Continuous Improvement
- Actively monitor the working environment, reporting near misses monthly and contributing to process improvement proposals as part of how we keep raising the bar.
Experience Required
- Prior supervisory or team lead experience in a production environment, with a track record of managing people, performance, and delivery.
- Working knowledge of lean manufacturing principles, with evidence of practical application rather than classroom exposure only.
- Minimum of 5 years' hands-on experience in wiring harness or panel wiring manufacturing (automotive, aerospace, defence, or industrial control panel sectors), with a proven track record of high-quality workmanship.
- Proficiency in interpreting IPC/WHMA-A-620 standards and applying them to wiring harness assembly; IPC qualification desirable.
- Strong mechanical aptitude and experience using hand and electric tools for assembly tasks.
- Demonstrated ability to route cables efficiently and neatly, minimising risk of damage or interference.
- Familiarity with electrical and electronic equipment assembly, wiring, and testing procedures.
- Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
What We Are Looking For
- Leadership: Confidence to lead a small team day-to-day, including allocating work, managing performance, and resolving operational issues, while remaining hands-on.
- Teamwork: Collaboration with colleagues and Engineering to achieve common goals, contributing positively to team dynamics.
- Communication: Clear, concise verbal and written communication to convey information, seek clarification, and collaborate with the team.
- Initiative: Proactive approach to problem-solving, taking initiative to identify improvement opportunities and enhance productivity.
- Organisation: Strong organisational skills to manage workflow, prioritise tasks, and maintain a tidy, efficient workspace.
- Time Management: Effective time management to optimise efficiency and meet production deadlines without compromising quality or safety.
- Quality Focus: Intrinsic drive for high-quality work, committed to meeting or exceeding standards in all aspects of assembly, wiring, and testing.
- Attention to Detail: Meticulous attention to detail, ensuring accurate wiring, assembly, and routing, minimising errors and ensuring compliance with industry standards.
- Technical Proficiency: Strong understanding of electrical and mechanical principles, coupled with proficiency in hand and electric tools, machinery, and testing equipment.
- Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues during assembly or testing, demonstrating resourcefulness and adaptability.
- Safety Consciousness: Commitment to safety protocols and guidelines, prioritising personal safety and the safety of others.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £36,000.00-£40,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
Expected start date: 03/08/2026
