Manufacturing Engineer

Company:                             

Shay Murtagh Precast Ltd is a leading manufacturer of concrete products in the UK and Ireland. We  specialise in pre-stressed and precast concrete products, including concrete storage tanks, bridge  beams, culverts, retaining walls, A-frame buildings, tunnel segments, Data centres, BESS sites and a range of domestic concrete products. Within the Utility Sector Shay Murtagh are involved in supply and construction of significant civils infrastructure on many large projects throughout UK and Ireland.

Furthermore, bespoke concrete products can be designed and manufactured to any requirement by our in-house design and engineering departments.

Shay Murtagh Precast continues to secure major, high-profile projects, resulting in a strong pipeline of work and an exciting opportunity for an Engineer to join our team and contribute to their successful delivery.  The individual we are seeking, should have a civil engineering background, with a minimum of two to three years experience with setting out and/or site experience.

Role Purpose:                     

The Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for supporting the safe, efficient and accurate manufacture  of precast concrete products within our Raharney production facility. Working closely with the      Production Manager, the postholder will take ownership of an allocated production building or area,  managing its daily production activities, coordinating labour and work priorities, and ensuring that agreed safety, quality, output and programme targets are achieved.

The role will convert approved production drawings and specifications into clear, practical             manufacturing activities. The Manufacturing Engineer will ensure that the correct drawings, materials, moulds, reinforcement, cast-in components, equipment and labour are available when required. They will work directly with the production team to explain technical requirements, complete setting-out and dimensional checks, resolve production issues and ensure that units are manufactured correctly and in accordance with the agreed programme.

Working across Production, Design, Quality, Maintenance, Logistics and Materials, the Manufacturing Engineer will monitor progress against the daily and weekly production plan and identify any issue that may affect safety, quality, output or delivery. This will include addressing drawing queries, material shortages, mould or equipment constraints, workmanship issues, repairs and remedial work, storage requirements and the preparation of completed units for loading and transport.                                          

This is a hands-on, factory-based role requiring a consistently high level of visibility, personal ownership,  initiative and follow-through. The successful candidate will be expected to spend significant time within  the production area, actively monitor how work is progressing, identify what needs to happen next and address issues without waiting to be directed. Where an issue cannot be resolved independently, the  postholder must escalate it promptly to the Production Manager, explain the potential impact and propose a practical course of action. The ability to remain productive, take responsibility and drive actions through to completion is an essential requirement of the role.

The Manufacturing Engineer will also support the effective coordination and development of the production team within their allocated area. They will help establish clear daily priorities, maintain standards of workmanship, safety and housekeeping, and ensure that employees understand the drawings, specifications and quality requirements relevant to their work.

An important part of the role will be developing the individual’s technical, production-leadership and operational-management capability. As knowledge, experience and performance develop, the      postholder will take greater responsibility for production planning, people coordination, quality    performance, cost control and continuous improvement, creating a clear progression route within Production and Operations.

 Core accountabilities

 Production Planning and Daily Operations

• Take ownership of the daily operation and performance of an allocated production building or area, working closely with the Production Manager to achieve agreed safety, quality, output, cost and programme targets.
• Attend and actively contribute to daily production meetings, providing clear updates on progress, priorities, labour requirements, technical issues, material constraints and any matter that may affect the production programme.
• Translate the daily and weekly production programme into clear work priorities for the production team, ensuring that employees understand what is required and remain effectively deployed throughout the working day.
• Monitor actual production against the agreed programme, identify delays or lost output and implement practical recovery actions in consultation with the Production Manager.
• Plan ahead for upcoming production requirements and ensure that the allocated building is prepared for the next units and projects rather than reacting to requirements on the day of manufacture.

 Technical and Production Engineering

• Review and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, reinforcement details, bar schedules and other technical information required for manufacture.
• Undertake the setting out and checking of complex and challenging reinforced-concrete and precast structures, ensuring that all critical dimensions, levels, openings, cast-in components and other project requirements are accurately transferred into production.
• Verify that the correct and most current drawings and technical information are being used within the production area and promptly address any missing, unclear, conflicting or revised information.
• Explain drawings, specifications and technical requirements clearly to production employees and provide practical engineering guidance throughout the manufacturing process.
• Liaise with the Design team to raise technical queries, resolve drawing or specification issues and agree practical manufacturing solutions where required.
• Apply practical knowledge of AutoCAD, BIM processes and relevant Eurocodes when reviewing technical information and resolving production-related engineering matters together with good general IT skills, including Microsoft Office applications.

 Production Readiness and Resources

• Confirm before manufacture begins that the required drawings, moulds, reinforcement, cast-in components, materials, equipment and labour are available and suitable for the planned work.
• Schedule and coordinate material and equipment requirements for manufacture, identifying long-lead, specialist or project-specific items sufficiently early to avoid disruption to production.
• Liaise with the Production Manager, Materials, Maintenance, Design and other relevant departments to address shortages, equipment issues, mould constraints or other barriers to production.
• Coordinate mould preparation, reinforcement, cast-in items and pre-pour requirements to ensure that units are ready for inspection and concrete placement in accordance with the agreed programme.

 Quality Control and Workmanship

• Ensure that all precast units are manufactured in accordance with approved drawings, specifications, inspection and test requirements and company quality procedures.
• Complete or coordinate setting-out, dimensional, pre-pour and post-pour inspections and ensure that identified issues are corrected before work progresses to the next stage.
• Monitor standards of workmanship throughout the production process, including reinforcement, cast-in components, concrete placement, surface finish, patching, welding and remedial work.
• Work closely with the Quality team to investigate non-conformances, production defects and recurring workmanship issues and ensure that appropriate corrective actions are completed.
• Minimise avoidable errors, rework, material waste and production delays by identifying problems at the earliest possible stage.
• Support inspections by clients or third parties and provide clear technical information regarding the manufacturing process, quality controls and any corrective actions required.

 People Management and Leadership

·         Provide clear day-to-day direction, technical guidance and supervision to the team leaders and production employees assigned to the allocated building or area.

·         Coordinate a production team of up to approximately 30 employees, allocate work effectively and ensure that employees remain productive and focused on the agreed priorities.

·         Monitor employee performance, standards of work, attendance, timekeeping, conduct and housekeeping and address or escalate concerns promptly to the Production Manager.

·         Work with the Production Manager and HR to address performance, conduct or attendance matters in accordance with company procedures.

·         Identify training and competency requirements and support the training, coaching and cross-training of employees within the production area.

·         Promote a culture of ownership and accountability in which employees understand the required standards and take responsibility for the quality of their work.

 Health and Safety

·         Ensure that all activities within the allocated production area are carried out in accordance with company health and safety requirements, risk assessments, safe operating procedures and agreed methods of work.

·         Maintain a visible presence within the factory and intervene immediately where unsafe acts, unsafe conditions or departures from agreed procedures are identified.

·         Ensure that mould assembly, lifting activities, access arrangements, work equipment and production processes are properly planned and controlled.

·         Maintain high standards of housekeeping and ensure that work areas, access routes, tools, materials and equipment are kept organised and safe.

·         Report hazards, incidents and near misses promptly and participate in investigations and the implementation of corrective actions where required.

 Coordination, Communication and Delivery

·         Communicate professionally and confidently with clients, designers, project managers, Quality, Logistics and other internal departments regarding technical requirements, production progress, quality matters and the resolution of project-related issues.

·         Build effective working relationships across departments and take ownership of following outstanding actions through to completion.

·         Ensure that completed units are correctly identified, checked and prepared for safe removal from the production building.

·         Coordinate with the Yard and Logistics teams regarding storage, loading and delivery priorities and highlight any issue that may affect an agreed delivery date.

·         Escalate unresolved technical, quality, safety, labour or production issues promptly to the Production Manager, clearly explaining the likely impact and proposing a practical course of action.

 Cost Control and Continuous Improvement

·         Use labour, materials, moulds and equipment efficiently and remain conscious of the cost implications of production decisions, errors, delays and rework.

·         Monitor performance against agreed production targets and assist the Production Manager in investigating significant variances in output, labour usage, quality or cost.

·         Identify and implement practical improvements to production methods, workflow, mould utilisation, quality, safety and productivity.

·         Participate in Lean manufacturing, problem-solving and continuous-improvement initiatives across the production facility.

·         Maintain accurate production, quality and operational records and provide reports or updates as required by the Production Manager.

·         Undertake any other reasonable duties consistent with the responsibilities and level of the role.