Job Description:
The Manufacturing Team Leader is responsible for overseeing the manufacture of complex processes within our Southampton Detectors LoB (Line of Business).
This role ensures production targets, quality standards, and safety requirements are consistently met, whilst providing strong people leadership driving engagement, performance, and development of a team of technicians and operators to achieve both operational and individual success.
As a Manufacturing Team Leader you will:
- To lead and supervise a team of Operators and Technicians within one of our Detectors Manufacturing Areas, fostering a positive, inclusive, and high-performance team culture.
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Supervise, and/or technically lead, the activities of a medium to large size team; set objectives and contribute to assessment of their performance, while actively coaching, mentoring, and supporting individual development, to ensure team effectiveness and compliance with Health, Safety and Environmental standards.
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Act as a visible and approachable leader, promoting open communication, addressing concerns, and driving employee engagement and wellbeing within the team.
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Influence cross-functional teams (including engineering and/or project management) to improve the design / quality / build methodology / manufacturing plan of the product based on practical knowledge and experience.
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Drive company KPI burndown through leading process improvement & problem solving to ensure continuous improvement within own area.
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Diagnose and resolve technical / process / product problems, either independently or as a team, including finding innovative solutions, within broad business procedures, to contribute to business improvement and customer satisfaction.
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Provide advice, coaching, and ongoing performance feedback to all team members to ensure best use of tools and support overall team effectiveness.
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Develop the team using company tools to support succession planning, identify high-potential talent, and maximise team capability.
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Ensure processes are conducted according to technical specifications outlined and products are compliant with required quality standards.
What you’ll bring
- Proven experience in Manufacturing, ideally within Semi-Conductor or AIT manufacturing, but also within Aerospace / Defence or high-reliability industries
- Previous team leadership or supervisory experience
- Excellent solid practical knowledge of manufacturing processes
- Proven relevant technical proficiency either through qualification (HND / degree) or equivalent experience and knowledge
- In depth practical knowledge of relevant Health, Safety and Environmental principles (IOSH qualification required for the role, but training can be provided)
- Familiarity with quality standards (e.g., ISO 9001, AS9100)
- Ability to persuade and influence others
- Ability to articulate and explain technical understanding
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Desirable Skills
- Experience with clean room environments
- Lean manufacturing or Six Sigma certification
- Experience with ERP/MES systems
This is not an exhaustive list, and we are keen to hear from you even if you might not have experience in all the above. The most important skill is a good attitude and willingness to learn.
Security Clearance
This role is subject to pre-employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting
Why join us
At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work–life balance. Whether you're looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.
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Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.
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Secure your Future: Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
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Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).
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Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
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Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
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Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
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Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
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Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.
For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website.
Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team—they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.
At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.
Be part of something bigger - apply now!
Primary Location:
GB - Southampton
Contract Type:
Permanent
Hybrid Working:
Onsite
