Manufacturing Laboratory Manager
Bristol
Onsite
Management Level C
Why join Rolls-Royce?
At Rolls-Royce we are proud to be a business that has truly helped to shape the modern world and are committed to always being a force for progress; powering, protecting and connecting people everywhere.
By joining Rolls-Royce, you'll have the opportunity to work on world-class solutions, supported by a culture that believes individuality is our greatest strength, and all perspectives, experiences and backgrounds help us innovate and enable our high-performance culture.
Rolls-Royce is seeking an experienced engineering professional to lead the special process and laboratory capability for Defence UK and International. In this role you will lead the development, industrialisation, deployment and continuous improvement of special processes and laboratory operations across the business. You will be responsible for the initial and continuing capability and conformity of special processes and lead the resolution of technical issues to meet business and customer requirements for safety, quality, cost, delivery rate and lead time.
What you will be doing:
- Technical Authority for special processes ensuring compliance with health, safety and environmental standards, technical and regulatory requirements.
- Lead the special process and laboratory capability including people development, load/capacity planning, business resilience, technology development and industrialisation.
- Build and maintain relationships with special process and laboratory partners, suppliers and quality assurance organisations.
Position qualifications:
- Qualified Metallurgist, Chemist, or Engineer (UK BEng or equivalent), or deep practical special processes experience.
- Proven technical and professional leadership in special process and laboratory environments.
- Experience developing, deploying, and leveraging personal and professional networks.
- Demonstrated ability to build and lead high performing teams and deliver on business and customer requirements.
- Professionally accredited Engineer (UK Chartered Engineer or equivalent) (preferred).
Regional Benefits:
- Work in a safety-first environment were doing the right thing and keeping it simple are core principles.
- Join a culture that values making a real difference through your work.
- Develop your career as a mid-career professional blending technical expertise with strong personal qualities.
- Thrive in a role that encourages integrity, accountability, resilience, and curiosity.
- Collaborate and build relationships in a team-focused environment while also working independently.
- Take initiative, lead, and make smart decisions with confidence and support.
- Grow through continuous learning, openness to improvement, and exposure to challenging opportunities.
This role will require you to hold a Developed Vetting (DV). To start, you will require a minimum Security Check (SC) clearance without any caveats to that clearance. Rolls-Royce will support the application for Security Clearance if you don’t currently already have this in place.
Please be aware that the priority will be given to employees identified as being at high risk.
The professional level and the salary of the position will be dependent on the skills and experience of the successful candidate.
It is advised that you inform your current manager of your application for this role.
Our vision is to ensure that the excellence and ingenuity that shaped our history continues into our future. Our multi-year transformation programme aims to turn Rolls-Royce into a high-performing, competitive, resilient and growing company. Join us, and it can be your future vision too.
Rolls-Royce are committed to being a respectful, inclusive, and non-discriminatory workplace where individuality is valued, diverse perspectives fuel innovation, and everyone can thrive.
Grade: Management level C
For further information please contact: Lizzie Moore - [email protected]
Job CategoryManufacturing EngineeringPosting Date15 Oct 2026; 00:10Posting End Date28 Oct 2026Skills Required
- Qualified Metallurgist, Chemist, or Engineer with a UK BEng or equivalent, or deep practical special processes experience
- Proven technical and professional leadership in special process and laboratory environments
- Experience developing, deploying, and leveraging personal and professional networks
- Demonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing teams and deliver business and customer requirements
- Professionally accredited Engineer, such as UK Chartered Engineer or equivalent
- Developed Vetting clearance, with a minimum Security Check clearance required to start
Rolls-Royce Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Rolls-Royce and has not been reviewed or approved by Rolls-Royce.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support is strengthened by a U.S. 401(k) program and recent Indianapolis agreements that enhanced retirement benefits. This foundation is complemented by an ongoing company emphasis on competitive retirement provisions across regions.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity value is broadened through a global employee share plan with a broad-based grant in 2024. A matched-purchase program introduced in 2025 further extends access to share ownership.
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Flexible Benefits — Flexible benefits are highlighted through a holistic, choice-based package and flexible working principles under the People Deal. Regional tailoring provides options spanning wellbeing, recognition, and other locally relevant rewards.
Rolls-Royce Insights
What We Do
Delivering power and propulsion solutions in the air, at sea and on land.








