Senior Manufacturing Engineer – Paint

About the role

Lotus UK Manufacturing is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer – Paint to lead the development and optimisation of paint processes at its state‑of‑the‑art facility in Hethel. The role combines technical ownership of paint application lines with continuous improvement, supporting current production, new model launches and engineering changes.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the design, optimisation and continuous improvement of paint manufacturing processes to maximise quality, efficiency and equipment reliability.
• Provide technical ownership of pretreatment, e‑coat, primer, basecoat, clearcoat and associated curing systems.
• Support new model introductions, engineering changes and product launches by developing, validating and implementing paint processes.
• Specify, procure, commission and validate new paint equipment, managing supplier relationships and conducting FAT/SAT.
• Investigate and resolve paint process and product quality issues using structured problem‑solving methods.
• Analyse and reduce defects such as dirt inclusions, runs, sags, orange peel, adhesion failures and colour variation.
• Develop and maintain Process Flow Diagrams, PFMEAs, Control Plans, SOPs and other APQP/PPAP documentation.
• Collect and analyse control‑plan data to monitor process capability and ensure compliance with quality standards.
• Plan and execute paint material and process validation activities, including performance testing (stone chip, adhesion, humidity, chemical and thermal resistance).

Required profile

• Proven experience in high‑volume automotive paint manufacturing environments.
• Strong technical leadership with a track record of delivering process improvements and supporting new model introductions.
• Ability to work collaboratively with suppliers, product engineering teams and cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Experience managing equipment commissioning, FAT/SAT and validation activities.
• Solid understanding of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA and statistical process control.

Required skills

• Pretreatment, e‑coat, primer, basecoat and clearcoat application processes.
• Curing systems and related equipment.
• Equipment specification, procurement, FAT/SAT and commissioning.
• Root‑cause analysis and structured problem‑solving methodologies.
• Process Flow Diagram creation and maintenance.
• PFMEA development and Control Plan management.
• APQP and PPAP documentation.
• Statistical analysis of process capability.
• Coating performance testing (stone chip resistance, cross‑hatch adhesion, jet‑wash adhesion, humidity, chemical and thermal durability).