Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.

Head of Industrial Process Engineering

Hybrid working arrangement: minimum 4 days a week on site
Working hours: Full-time Monday – Friday. 37 hours per week

Location: Templecombe (with occasional travel to Cheadle and other UK sites set at 10%)

We are looking for a Head of Industrial Process Engineering to lead and develop our Industrial Process Engineering capability across the UK Industrial Centre of Competence. In this role, you will provide strategic leadership to a multi-disciplinary team, driving industrial excellence, continuous improvement and manufacturing transformation across a complex engineering and manufacturing environment.

Working closely with senior leaders across Operations, Engineering, Programmes and Supply Chain, you will ensure that industrial processes, tools, people and infrastructure are aligned to support business growth, operational performance and product lifecycle delivery. You will play a critical role in shaping industrial strategy, improving competitiveness and embedding a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

Core Benefits

On offer is a competitive salary and benefits package, which includes:

• Performance-related bonus up to 12% of your salary
• Car allowance
• Half day every Friday
• 201 hours annual leave (plus bank holidays) plus opportunity to buy up to 40 hours/year (pro rata)
• 24 hours volunteering paid for
• Private healthcare (Couples cover through Aviva)
• Pension scheme
• Life Assurance and Health Insurance
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• Gym membership discounts

You can read about some of our other benefits here: United Kingdom benefits | Thales Group

Under Water Systems (UWS)

Our purpose is to be the leading provider of underwater sensors and decision superiority, helping navies across the world keep our friends, families and all of us safe. We cover four sectors: Mine Counter Measures, Anti-Submarine warfare, Services and Future Capabilities.

Main Responsibilities

In this role you will:

• Lead and develop Industrial Process Engineering teams across multiple UK sites, fostering a high-performing, collaborative and inclusive culture.
• Define and implement industrial strategies, processes and capability development plans that improve operational efficiency, competitiveness and manufacturing readiness.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, lean manufacturing practices and industrial transformation projects across the business.
• Act as the industrial authority at programme reviews and bid gates, ensuring robust industrialisation, production readiness and cost-effective delivery solutions.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure industrial capabilities, resources and performance support business objectives.

Experience & Skills

We are looking for someone who can bring:

• Significant leadership experience within complex manufacturing, industrial or engineering environments.
• Proven experience leading multi-disciplinary teams and delivering large-scale industrial improvement or transformation programmes.
• Strong knowledge of lean methodologies, continuous improvement techniques and industrial toolsets such as ERP, MRP and MES systems.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work effectively across all organisational levels.
• A degree in an engineering, manufacturing or related discipline.

Experience across the full product lifecycle, defence manufacturing environments, or highly regulated industries would be highly advantageous.

Security Clearance Requirement: UK Eyes Only:

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to be a UK National and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. If approved by the MOD, a dual national from a non-ITAR country may be considered.

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels.

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At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.
 

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.

If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. Join the Talent Community here.

Join Thales in the UK – Innovate with us and shape the future!