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​Additive Manufacturing Operations Lead

Who We Are

 

The Additive Manufacturing Centre of Excellence (AM-COE), based in Derby, UK, is a fast-growing research and production hub specialising in vat-photopolymerisation 3D printing of ceramics, polymers, composites, and advanced functional components. Located at 33 Shaftesbury Street South, AM-COE operates the largest ceramic 3D-printing farm in Europe, delivering advanced manufacturing and R&D services to high-performance sectors including aerospace, industrial gas turbines (IGT), and next-generation energy systems.Our mission is to push the boundaries of functional, high-performance additive manufacturing. From ceramic core production to precision wax patterns and innovative energy materials, we support regulated, technically demanding industries with tailored solutions that meet the highest quality and performance standards.

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Position Overview

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The Additive Manufacturing Operations Lead plays a key operational role within AM‑COE’s large‑scale ceramic additive manufacturing facility. The position focuses on coordinating daily production activities, supervising machine operators, ensuring efficient workflow across multiple additive manufacturing systems, and supporting continuous improvement of manufacturing operations.

The role also supports collaboration with engineering, quality, and research teams to ensure manufacturing processes meet strict technical requirements while maintaining production efficiency, traceability, and compliance with ISO quality standards.

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Key Responsibilities

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Operational Leadership & Production Coordination

  • Supervise daily operation of ceramic additive manufacturing systems including DLP, SLA, and LCD printing technologies.

  • Lead daily communication with machine operators and technicians to review production status, identify potential issues, and ensure clear understanding of manufacturing priorities.

  • Provide technical guidance and operational support to production staff during printing, build preparation, and post‑processing activities.

  • Monitor production workflows across multiple printers to maintain stable and efficient manufacturing operations.

  • Ensure adherence to operational procedures, safety protocols, and equipment handling standards.

Production Planning & Workflow Optimisation

  • Work closely with production planning and engineering teams to organise manufacturing schedules and machine allocation.

  • Ensure that daily production plans are communicated clearly to operators and executed effectively across the facility.

  • Continuously monitor workflow efficiency and identify opportunities to optimise machine utilisation and production throughput.

  • Coordinate build preparation, printing operations, cleaning, post‑processing, and finishing workflows.

  • Ensure that production scheduling and operational coordination enable efficient and reliable delivery of customer orders.

Continuous Improvement & Process Optimisation

  • Analyse operational performance and identify opportunities to improve productivity, reliability, and process stability.

  • Support implementation of improved manufacturing workflows, operational procedures, and production practices.

  • Contribute to initiatives aimed at increasing manufacturing scalability and repeatability.

  • Support development of best practices for additive manufacturing operations within the organisation.

Quality Assurance & Manufacturing Standards

  • Support quality control procedures to ensure manufactured components meet defined engineering specifications.

  • Maintain traceability of production batches, build records, and inspection data.

  • Assist in identifying root causes of manufacturing deviations and support implementation of corrective actions.

  • Work closely with quality teams to maintain high manufacturing standards across all additive manufacturing processes.

Research & Development Collaboration

  • Collaborate with R&D engineers to test new ceramic materials, printing parameters, and process improvements.

  • Assist with scaling newly developed materials and processes from research trials into stable production workflows.

  • Support validation trials, process characterisation, and optimisation of additive manufacturing parameters.

ISO Compliance & Technical Documentation

  • Maintain production documentation including standard operating procedures (SOPs), build records, and process documentation.

  • Support implementation and maintenance of ISO quality management system requirements.

  • Assist with preparation of technical documentation required for internal reviews and external audits.

  • Ensure production data and documentation are recorded accurately and maintained according to company standards.

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Desired Skills

  • Strong familiarity with additive manufacturing technologies and industrial 3D printing systems.

  • Understanding of advanced manufacturing environments and production workflows.

  • Knowledge of ceramic materials or high‑performance engineering materials is beneficial.

  • Experience coordinating technical teams or supervising manufacturing operators.

  • Understanding of quality management systems and ISO documentation practices.

  • Strong organisational, analytical, and problem‑solving abilities.

  • Interest in advanced materials, engineering innovation, and manufacturing technologies.

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Qualifications

  • Degree or technical background in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field.

  • Experience in additive manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, or high‑technology production environments is desirable.

  • Experience working with industrial manufacturing equipment or technical production systems is beneficial.

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Location, Terms and Benefits

  • Location: Derby, UK (on-site)•Hours: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday

  • Holiday: 21 working days per year + bank holidays•

  • Contract: Fixed-term (12 months) with six-month probation; potential to extend or convert to permanent

  • Pension: Company pension scheme

  • How to ApplySend your CV and a brief cover letter highlighting relevant project experience to a.jalali@am-coe.com with the subject “​Additive Manufacturing Operations Lead”. Applications reviewed on receipt; early submission encouraged.

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