Senior Production Manager- Submarines

Posted 4 Days Ago
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Derby, Derbyshire, England, GBR
In-Office
Senior level
Aerospace • Defense
The Role
Lead a complex, low-volume manufacturing business unit in Derby, owning safety, quality, cost, delivery, people, assets, budget, and operational performance. Manage skilled teams across machining, welding, and assembly on a 24/5 operation. Develop manufacturing capability and capacity, improve productivity, OEE, quality, cost, and lead times, and lead Lean Six Sigma and continuous improvement initiatives while partnering with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Programme teams.
Summary Generated by Built In

Job Description

Senior Production Manager

Full Time

Derby

Rolls Royce Submarines are seeking an experienced Senior Production Manager / Manufacturing Manager to take full responsibility for a complex, high-value business unit delivering bespoke, low-volume and technically complex products at our manufacturing facilities in Derby

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.

This is a genuine Business Unit leadership role. As the Manufacturing Manager you will have full accountability for Product Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery, People and Assets, alongside ownership of the manufacturing budget and operational performance.

You will be managing processes to include welding, precision machining and assembly all supported by a highly skilled workforce operating across a 24/5 shift pattern.

As the Manufacturing Manager you will lead and develop a skilled production team, ensuring the operation delivers safely, efficiently and to the highest standards. You will work closely with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain and Programme teams to optimise capacity, capability, and delivery, while developing a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

What you will be doing:

  • Taking full ownership of manufacturing performance and budget within the business unit
  • Leadership of a skilled 24/5 production operation
  • Accountability for Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery, People and Assets
  • Management of complex low-volume, high-value manufacturing leading across machining, welding and assembly processes
  • Development of manufacturing capability, capacity, and processes
  • Driving improvements in productivity, OEE, quality, cost, and lead times
  • Developing people, succession plans, and technical capability
  • Leading Lean Manufacturing / Lean Six Sigma and continuous improvement initiatives
  • Working collaboratively across the wider business to deliver strategic and operational objectives

Position Qualifications

As an established Manufacturing, Production or Operations leader with experience of managing complex engineering operations, ideally within Defence, Aerospace, Nuclear, Oil & Gas, or another highly regulated precision engineering environments.

  • Experience leading teams in complex precision manufacturing, machining, welding, and assembly environments
  • Proven experience of leading skilled teams and managing significant budgets and operational performance.
  • Hands-on, commercially minded leader with a demonstrable track record of improving manufacturing performance through Lean Six Sigma, structured problem-solving and continuous improvement tools and techniques.

To work for Rolls-Royce Submarines, you need to hold a 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.

Due to the nature of work the business conducts and the protection of certain assets, you must hold a UK nationality. Any dual nationals will require additional scrutiny and background checks prior to commencing work with RRSL.

             

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.

Please be aware that the priority will be given to employees identified as being at high risk. The professional level and salary of the position will be dependent on the skills and experience of the successful candidate 

This job is advertised at the grades shown, and this is the desired operating level for this role. We encourage applications from candidates with relevant experience from any grade.

It is advised that you inform your current manager of your application for this role.  

Level C

Please contact [email protected] for further information

Job Category

Manufacturing

Posting Date

01 Sept 2026; 00:09Posting End Date08 Sept 2026

Skills Required

  • Experience as a manufacturing, production, or operations leader managing complex engineering operations
  • Experience leading teams in complex precision manufacturing, machining, welding, and assembly environments
  • Experience leading skilled teams and managing significant budgets and operational performance
  • Demonstrable success improving manufacturing performance through Lean Six Sigma, structured problem-solving, and continuous improvement techniques
  • Security Check (SC) clearance without caveats, or eligibility to obtain it
  • UK nationality
  • Experience in defence, aerospace, nuclear, oil and gas, or another highly regulated precision engineering environment

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.

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

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The Company
HQ: London
40,000 Employees
Year Founded: 1906

What We Do

Delivering power and propulsion solutions in the air, at sea and on land.

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