Overview
COMPETITIVE SALARY Are you a manufacturing and engineering leader who thrives on setting standards, driving consistency, and shaping how world‑class operations are delivered?
Technical Services Manager – Sandiacre, NG10 5AN (onsite). This role acts as the group authority for manufacturing technology, maintenance strategy, asset reliability, CNC programming, tooling, CAPEX delivery, and New Product Introduction across multiple UK sites. You will define how manufacturing and maintenance are executed across the group, reporting to the Production Director, and serving as a senior group presence across all four UK locations to ensure safe, efficient, and future‑ready manufacturing in a safety‑critical rail environment.
You will ensure manufacturing processes are robust, repeatable, and fully compliant with rail standards, enabling reliable and traceable production of switches, crossings, rail components, and assemblies. If you are passionate about engineering excellence, governance, and continuous improvement at scale, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact across UK manufacturing operations.
The Role
- Define and lead the group manufacturing technology strategy, aligned to business objectives and long‑term growth.
- Own the manufacturing asset lifecycle and maintenance strategy, including asset criticality, reliability improvement, critical spares, and replacement planning.
- Lead the manufacturing CAPEX portfolio end‑to‑end, from business case through delivery, commissioning, and benefits realisation.
- Provide functional leadership for CNC programming, tooling, and fixtures, driving standardisation, optimisation, cost control, and risk reduction.
- Lead New Product Introduction (NPI) to ensure safe, robust, and repeatable manufacturing processes ready for operational handover.
- Establish and govern group manufacturing standards, specifications, and technical governance across all sites.
- Define and maintain manufacturing routings, standard times, capacities, and process data within Microsoft AX/ D365/ ERP systems.
- Partner closely with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Planning, and Design to ensure standards are practical, embedded, and support design‑for‑manufacture.
- Ensure all manufacturing processes, assets, and changes comply with Quality, EHS, and rail industry requirements.
- Uphold the Company Code of Conduct, taking responsibility for health, safety, environmental compliance, and other reasonable duties aligned to the role.
The Candidate
- Degree educated (or equivalent experience) in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial, or Production Engineering.
- Proven experience leading CAPEX delivery and/ or manufacturing transformation within a heavy or complex manufacturing environment.
- Strong technical expertise in CNC machining, tooling strategies, and machine capability.
- Experience working across multi‑site manufacturing operations.
- Working knowledge of ERP systems (Microsoft AX/ D365 preferred).
- Structured, data‑driven problem solver with a continuous improvement mindset.
- Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and site teams without direct authority.
- Technically credible leader able to set standards, challenge constructively, and drive alignment.
- Clear communicator who can align group strategy into site‑level execution.
- Resilient and collaborative, comfortable operating in a regulated, safety‑critical manufacturing environment.
Benefits
- Competitive salary with an annual bonus
- Tailored training to help you learn and develop
- Company funded external qualifications (where relevant to the role)
- Company pension scheme with 7% employer contribution
- Life assurance cover 3.5 x salary
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Discounted gym membership – up to 25% off across 4,000 UK gyms
- Fuel Card – save 2-3p per litre on across 3,500 UK fuel stations including BP, Esso and Shell
- Various employee recognition schemes
- 33 days holiday per annum, pro rate (inclusive of bank/public holidays)
About Progress Rail
Progress Rail, a Caterpillar company, is one of the largest integrated and diversified providers of rolling stock and infrastructure solutions and technologies for the global rail industry. The company provides advanced EMD rail vehicles, engines, and technologies, railcars, trackwork, fasteners, signalling, rail welding and Kershaw Maintenance‑of‑Way equipment, along with dedicated locomotive and freight car repair services, aftermarket parts support and recycling operations. Progress Rail’s global network includes the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Australia, China, India, and the United Kingdom.
Progress Rail Values
- Integrity – the power of honesty
- Excellence – the power of quality
- Teamwork – the power of working together
- Commitment – the power of responsibility
- Sustainability – the power of endurance
Equal Opportunities
Progress Rail is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. We value and embrace diversity of thought, background and unique experiences and we pride ourselves on being an inclusive workforce and culture.
How to Apply
To be considered for this role, please click on the link provided. If you would like any further information about this vacancy before applying, please contact Taher Rahman at our Sandiacre site. We would politely request no agencies please.
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