NPI Production Engineer

Help build the manufacturing capability behind the next generation of opto-chemical sensors.

Mode Labs is developing autonomous opto-chemical sensing systems for remote environmental monitoring. We are looking for a driven, collaborative engineer to help industrialise our first commercial sensor platform and help deliver it into customers' hands.

THE ROLE

As our first NPI / Production Engineer, you will work closely with R&D and engineering colleagues to take evolving designs from prototype through pilot builds and into repeatable, controlled production. You will take ownership of defined manufacturing processes, tooling, documentation and test activities, while coordinating pilot-build work and supporting the product’s transfer into production.

This is a varied, hands-on role spanning product build and test, process development, tooling and manufacturing data. You will own defined work packages and play a central part in establishing a safe, repeatable and scalable production capability.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING

NPI and Industrialisation

• Coordinate pilot and pre-production build activities, capturing issues, actions and learning between build iterations.
• Provide practical design-for-manufacture, design-for-assembly and design-for-test input across optical, mechanical, electronic, fluidic and sensing-chemistry interfaces.
• Review designs, bills of materials, specifications and production documentation with engineering colleagues, identifying manufacturing issues and documentation gaps.

Manufacturing Process and Quality

• Develop, document and release assembly, inspection, calibration and end-of-line test processes.
• Design or specify tooling, jigs, fixtures and test equipment required for repeatable production.
• Establish appropriate process controls, acceptance criteria, traceability and production records.
• Investigate build and test failures using structured root-cause analysis, implementing effective corrective actions with engineering and quality colleagues.

Suppliers and Delivery

• Work with suppliers and manufacturing partners on process development, component quality, supplier readiness and manufacturing transfer.
• Support engineering change control, ensuring changes are implemented accurately in production documentation, tooling, inventory and supplier processes.
• Maintain safe, organised and appropriate production environments, including cleanliness or contamination controls where required.
• Support the on-time delivery of high-quality products while contributing to a culture of safety, quality and continuous improvement.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

During your first 12 months, you will have:

• Developed strong hands-on knowledge of the product's assembly, calibration and test processes.
• Contributed effectively to pilot and pre-production builds and delivery of finished products.
• Produced and maintained clear work instructions, test procedures and build records for assigned processes.
• Delivered practical tooling, fixture or test improvements that improve repeatability and ease of manufacture.
• Helped put traceability and manufacturing data collection into routine use.
• Used build data and structured problem solving to deliver measurable improvements in yield, repeatability, cycle time or quality.

ABOUT YOU

You will thrive in a small, passionate team and enjoy turning evolving designs into practical, reliable production processes. You are comfortable moving between hands-on build work, data-led problem solving, technical documentation and cross-functional collaboration, and you are keen to grow your NPI experience.

You may have an HND, degree or apprenticeship in a relevant engineering or scientific discipline, or an equivalent path through practical industry experience.

Essential Experience

• Typically two or more years' relevant experience in manufacturing, production engineering or the build and test of a complex technical product; equivalent apprenticeship or substantial practical experience will be considered.
• Hands-on experience assembling, testing and troubleshooting complex technical products.
• Experience creating or improving manufacturing processes, work instructions, fixtures or test methods.
• Experience defining and improving assembly, calibration, inspection or test processes.
• Experience designing, specifying or manufacturing tooling, jigs, fixtures or test equipment.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications and CAD data; familiarity with mechanical CAD tools such as SolidWorks or eDrawings.
• Ability to produce clear work instructions, test procedures, build records and manufacturing reports.
• Ability to take responsibility for a defined work package, organise priorities and communicate progress clearly.
• Ability to balance evolving design with the need to finalise production drawings for manufacture.

Desirable Experience

While not essential, experience in any of the following areas would be advantageous:

• Exposure to NPI, pilot builds or the transfer of a multidisciplinary hardware product into controlled production.
• Experience working with suppliers, subcontractors or contract manufacturing partners.
• Familiarity with engineering change control, non-conformance management or corrective-action processes.
• Optical systems, fluidic systems, sensor chemistry or precision-instrument manufacture.
• Electronics or electro-mechanical assemblies, including wiring or soldering to recognised IPC or industry standards.
• Manufacturing quality tools such as PFMEA, control plans, measurement-system analysis, process capability or design of experiments.
• Willingness to travel if necessary to visit sub-contractors and suppliers throughout UK and sometimes overseas.

Eligibility: The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate the right to work in the UK.

WHAT WE OFFER

Salary: Salary will be dependent on skills and experience. We anticipate:

• £35,000 – £40,000 for applicants with experience working within a technical environment with the essential experience required.
• £40,000 - £45,000 for applicants who bring broader relevant experience.

Benefits: 

• Employee share-option scheme.
• 25 days paid leave plus bank holidays.
• Company pension contributions matched up to 5%.
• Group life & legacy cover.
• Annual discretionary training allowance.
• One paid charity volunteering day per year.
• Travel-to-work loan and cycle-to-work salary sacrifice schemes.
• Flexible working arrangements where practical.

This role is advertised as full-time, although 0.8 FTE will be considered. Flexible or hybrid arrangements may be possible; however, because the role includes hands-on build, test and production work, regular on-site presence in Oxfordshire will be required.

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HOW TO APPLY

Please apply via the application link, submitting your CV and a short statement explaining why you would be a strong fit for the role.

Closing date: Open until filled. Applications will be reviewed as received.

Interview Process:

1st stage: (30 minutes) Remote meeting to evaluate your experience and technical ability.

2nd stage: (2 hours) Face to face onsite evaluating technical, presentation and communication skills along with your ways of working and your opportunity to to know more about us.

Disclaimer: Whilst we will aim to get back to everyone who applies, we are a small company and may not be able to provide feedback to all applicants. We apologise for this inconvenience.

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EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

We are an equal opportunities employer and commit to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace whilst creating an environment which promotes dignity and respect for all. We post our job descriptions across a wide range of recruitment platforms to enable us to attract the most diverse range of candidates we possibly can.

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ADJUSTMENTS & PROVISIONS

We want our recruitment process to be accessible. If you need a reasonable adjustment at any stage, please contact us and tell us what would help. You do not need to disclose a diagnosis to request an adjustment.

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ABOUT MODE LABS

Mode Labs is a customer-driven technology company developing the next generation of autonomous chemical sensing systems for environmental monitoring. Based in Oxford, UK, the company was founded in 2024 as a spin-out from the University of Oxford's Chemistry and Materials departments.

Our vision is to bring chemical understanding outside the laboratory, delivering clear measurement data where it is needed most: precision sensing, anytime, anywhere. Our mission is to protect the environment and human health by monitoring and reporting changes to our ecosystems.