Head of Manufacturing

Company:  Cranleigh Scientific
Location: Surrey
Closing Date: 06/07/2026
Hours: Full Time
Type: Permanent

Job Description

A pioneering clean energy technology business is developing next-generation hydrogen power systems designed to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels. Combining advanced engineering, fuel cell technology and hydrogen generation systems, the company is moving from technology development into commercial deployment and manufacturing scale-up.

We're looking for an experienced Head of Manufacturing to lead the development of manufacturing capability across a portfolio of advanced energy products. You'll play a critical role in bridging the gap between engineering development and production, ensuring products can be manufactured safely, efficiently and at scale.

This is a high-impact leadership position suited to someone who has successfully taken complex engineered products from prototype through industrialisation and into production, whilst building the systems, processes and supplier networks needed to support long-term growth.

Responsibilities include:

Leading the development and optimisation of manufacturing processes for advanced energy technologies

Driving the transition of products from prototype and development through to pilot production and manufacturing scale-up

Establishing manufacturing strategies focused on quality, cost, efficiency and operational performance

Leading Design for Manufacture (DFM) and manufacturability reviews across new product development programmes

Developing process flows, SOPs, work instructions and manufacturing controls

Supporting production readiness, process validation and manufacturing audit activities

Determining make-versus-buy decisions and developing outsourcing strategies where appropriate

Building and managing supplier and contract manufacturing relationships

Working closely with Engineering, Operations, Quality and Project teams to improve manufacturing performance and resolve technical challenges

Leading and developing the Manufacturing Engineering team while supporting future growth of the function

Driving continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, quality and waste reduction

Supporting the introduction of new manufacturing technologies and production capabilities

We're keen to speak with people with experience in:

Manufacturing Engineering, Industrialisation, NPI or Production Engineering leadership roles

Taking complex engineered products from development through to production and scale-up

Manufacturing process development, production readiness and operational improvement

Design for Manufacture (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA) and manufacturability assessments

Supplier development, contract manufacturing and make-versus-buy decision making

Leading multidisciplinary engineering or manufacturing teams

Working within advanced manufacturing, energy, aerospace, automotive, process engineering or industrial technology environments

Driving manufacturing excellence across quality, cost and performance metrics

Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work effectively across engineering, operations and senior leadership teams

Package & Benefits:

Competitive salary

Performance bonus scheme

Share option scheme

Private healthcare

Contributory pension

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

Life insurance

Flexible working hours 37.5 hrs/week

Employer-funded training & development

Up to 4 weeks contractual sick pay

To find out more or to apply, reach out to Lewis at Cranleigh STEM directly: (url removed)

Apply Now
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