Recruitment

CAD MANUFACTURING ENGINEER/TECHNICAL ENGINEER (SOLIDWORKS)

• Salary: £30-36K
• Hours: Full time
• Location: Leeds Production Facility

Join a team where no two days are the same

Barkston Plastics Engineering specialises in bespoke, one off plastic fabrication, producing custom engineered solutions for customers across the UK. We’re looking for a Manufacturing Engineer / Technical Engineer (ideally with Solidworks experience) who enjoys variety, problem solving, and working closely with production to turn ideas into high quality finished products.

If you understand fabrication, engineering principles, and thrive in a hands on environment, this role offers challenge, autonomy, and real impact.

About the role

You’ll be the technical link between customers, CAD, production, and commercial teams. Your work will shape how products are designed, costed, manufactured, and delivered. This is a varied and technically demanding role suited to someone who enjoys bespoke engineering rather than repetitive production.

Key responsibilities

• Liaise with customers to confirm requirements and ensure requests are achievable.
• Create manufacturing guides for new products, applying knowledge of fabrication, assembly, tooling, and materials.
• Produce CAD models to support production (SolidWorks or similar).
• Use internal production knowledge to ensure manufacturing methods are commercially appropriate.
• Support workflow planning, space requirements, and equipment layout.
• Prepare product and process reports by analysing data and trends.
• Answer technical queries from internal teams and customers.
• Maintain compliance with relevant regulations and company standards.
• Maintain product and process data, including CNC programming where required.
• Train and guide fabricators during development projects.
• Conduct contract reviews and ensure technical accuracy.
• Liaise with suppliers and internal departments to maintain strong communication.
• Review feedback and monitor quality of services provided.

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PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR - LEEDS (FULL TIME, PERMANENT)

• Salary: £36,000
• Hours: Full time
• Location: Leeds Production Facility

About the Role

We’re looking for a hands on Production Supervisor who has knowledge and experience of working in an engineering or fabrication (rather than machine led) environment to lead our Leeds shop floor and ensure customer orders are manufactured safely, accurately, on time and to the required quality standard.

You’ll allocate work, maintain the production schedule, support OTIF performance, uphold shop floor standards, and ensure the team works in line with company H&S, HR and quality procedures.

This is a key role for someone who enjoys being on the shop floor, solving problems early, and keeping production running smoothly.

Key Responsibilities

Production Planning & Workflow

• Allocate work to the shop floor team in line with the production schedule, customer priorities and available skills.
• Maintain and adjust the delivery schedule with the Head of Operations, escalating risks to OTIF, capacity, materials or labour.
• Supervise day to day production of repeat orders, bespoke products and jobs released from commercial estimates.
• Monitor output, right first time quality, material usage, waste and workflow.
• Identify production issues early and escalate risks affecting quality, delivery, cost or safety.

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MACHINING TECHNICIAN APPRENTICESHIPS (FULL-TIME) – LEVEL 3

• 221 Pontefract Lane, Leeds LS9 0DX
• Start Date September 2026

Job description:

We are looking for an apprentice to join our machining and engineering team. Do you want to develop high-level machining and engineering skills in a forward-thinking, supportive manufacturing environment that produces complex components for clients across the world?

Are you interested in CNC machining, engineering, problem-solving, and understanding how precision parts are made? Are you hardworking, keen to learn and able to use your own initiative? If yes, we may have the right apprenticeship for you.

Becoming an apprentice with Barkston Plastic Engineering will allow you to build a wide range of machining and engineering skills within a supportive and successful business. Our apprenticeships follow a structured programme under which you will receive close mentoring from experienced machinists and engineers, alongside support from our apprenticeship provider both at college and in the workplace.

You will learn the following:

• How to set, operate and programme CNC machines (mills, routers and lathes) using industry-standard controls.
• How to safely operate manual machining equipment including manual mills, lathes, pillar drills and routers.
• How to interpret engineering drawings, CAD models and technical specifications.
• How to select appropriate tooling, feeds, speeds and machining streategies for different materials.
• How to measure and inspect components using precision instruments such as micrometers, verniers and gauges.
• How to work to tight tolerances and quality standards required across industries including pharmaceutical, emergency services and automotive.
• How to apply recognised engineering and manufacturing standards including 5S, safe working practices and continuous improvement.
• How to identify and manage basic needs for machining equipment.

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PLASTIC FABRICATION APPRENTICESHIPS (FULL TIME) - LEVEL 2

• 221 Pontefract Lane, Leeds LS9 0DX
• Start Date September 2026

Job description:

We are looking for apprentices in plastic fabrication/welding and lean manufacturing.

Do you want to develop your skills in manufacturing in a forward thinking, supportive environment that manages challenging design work for clients across the world?

Are you interested in welding, hardworking, keen to learn and able to use your own initiative? If yes, we may have the right apprenticeship for you.

Becoming an apprentice with Barkston Plastic Engineering will allow you to build a wide range of manufacturing skills within a supportive and successful business. Our apprenticeships follow a structured programme under which you will receive close mentoring from experienced fabricators alongside support from our apprenticeship provider both at college and in the workplace.

You will learn the following:

• How to identify and understand the strengths and weaknesses of a variety of materials.
• Hand tools / machines - how to use tools such as plastic welding, routers, manual miller, lathe, annealing ovens, pillar drills, flame polishers.
• How to understand and follow engineering drawings and CAD models for projects from a variety of industries including pharmaceutical, emergency services and the car industry.
• Fabrication – how to fabricate units following a job sheet.
• Quality control and inspection procedures to BSI standards.
• Use power tools such as angle grinders safely.
• Recognised manufacturing standards for housekeeping, maintenance etc such as 5s.
• How to identify and manage maintenance needs for a manufacturing unit.

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