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.
Industrial Process Engineer - Optical Manufacturing
Glasgow | Supplier Travel Required
At Thales, we're passionate about developing technology that helps make the world safer, more secure and more sustainable. We're looking for an Industrial Process Engineer with experience in optical manufacturing to join our team and help drive excellence across our supplier network.
In this role, you'll work closely with suppliers producing optical components such as lenses, prisms, mirrors and filters, ensuring manufacturing processes deliver the highest standards of quality, performance and reliability.
What you'll be doing
Partnering with suppliers to improve optical manufacturing processes and product quality.
Conducting supplier audits, process assessments and First Article Inspections (FAI).
Supporting process qualification, validation and continuous improvement activities.
Analysing manufacturing and quality data to drive performance improvements.
Leading APQP activities and managing PPAP submissions.
Supporting New Product Introduction (NPI) projects and supplier readiness.
Collaborating with Engineering, Procurement and Quality teams to resolve manufacturing challenges and enhance supplier performance.
About you
Experience within optical, precision, photonics or manufacturing engineering environments.
Understanding of optical manufacturing processes and quality control principles.
Knowledge of APQP, PPAP, Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma methodologies.
Strong communication, problem-solving and stakeholder management skills.
Experience working with suppliers and cross-functional teams.
Willingness to travel to supplier sites as required.
Qualifications
A degree in Optics, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Product Design or a related discipline is desirable. We also welcome candidates with equivalent industry experience.
Why Thales?
We believe diverse teams drive innovation. If you're excited about this opportunity but don't meet every requirement, we'd still love to hear from you.
Think Big. Make it Happen. Together.
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!
Skills Required
- Experience in optical, precision, photonics, or manufacturing engineering environments
- Understanding of optical manufacturing processes and quality control principles
- Knowledge of APQP, PPAP, Lean Manufacturing, and/or Six Sigma methodologies
- Strong communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills
- Experience working with suppliers and cross-functional teams
- Willingness to travel to supplier sites as required
- Degree in Optics, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Product Design, or a related discipline
- Equivalent industry experience in place of a related degree
Thales Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Thales and has not been reviewed or approved by Thales.
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Retirement Support — Retirement plans with employer contributions and matches, profit sharing, and share purchase opportunities are emphasized across multiple regions. These elements are positioned as competitive components of total rewards.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Generous PTO that increases with tenure, paid holidays, and paid military, maternity, and paternity leave are described. This breadth supports work–life balance across locations.
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Flexible Benefits — Hybrid work options, flexible schedules, and parental supports such as childcare benefits and leave for sick children are available in several markets. Flexibility is presented as a core part of the employee experience.
Thales Insights
What We Do
Thales is a global high technology leader investing in digital and “deep tech” innovations – connectivity, big data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum technology – to build a future we can all trust, which is vital to the development of our societies. The company provides solutions, services and products that help its customers – businesses, organisations and states – in the defence, aeronautics, space, transportation and digital identity and security markets to fulfil their critical missions, by placing humans at the heart of the decision-making process.
