Production Operative

Do you enjoy hands-on work, have a good eye for detail, and want to develop a career within advanced manufacturing?

We are looking for a Production Operative to join TKMS ATLAS UK, based at Winfrith, Dorset. This role offers full training and the opportunity to work with specialist fibre optic manufacturing equipment, supporting the production of innovative underwater defence technologies used by the Royal Navy and international customers.

As a Production Operative, you will support the manufacture and testing of fibre optic products within a clean, quality-focused production environment. Working as part of a small team, you will learn specialist processes, operate manufacturing equipment, and play an important role in delivering high-quality products to customer requirements.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys practical work, is keen to learn new skills, and is looking to build a long-term career within a growing engineering and manufacturing business.

Key responsibilities include:

• Operating and monitoring specialist fibre optic manufacturing equipment
• Supporting fibre optic winding and production activities
• Carrying out optical testing and quality checks
• Following manufacturing procedures, work instructions, and quality standards
• Recording production information accurately and maintaining documentation where required
• Monitoring production processes and reporting any issues or defects
• Maintaining high standards of housekeeping, organisation, and safety within the production area
• Working closely with colleagues to meet production schedules and delivery requirements
• Supporting continuous improvement activities where appropriate
• Developing technical knowledge and skills through ongoing training

Full training provided:

• Approximately 3 months of structured training
• Training on specialist fibre optic manufacturing processes and equipment
• Training in optical testing and quality procedures
• Opportunity to progress into analysis and more technical activities once fully trained

The ideal candidate will have:

• A positive attitude and willingness to learn
• Good attention to detail and a methodical approach to work
• The ability to follow instructions and procedures accurately
• Basic IT skills and confidence using computers
• Good communication skills and the ability to work as part of a team
• A reliable and proactive approach to work
• The ability to maintain focus and accuracy when carrying out repetitive tasks

Desirable:

• Previous experience within a manufacturing, production, or process-driven environment
• Experience operating machinery or production equipment
• Knowledge or experience of fibre optics or optical testing
• Experience working to quality standards and documented procedures
• Experience within engineering, electronics, manufacturing, or technical production environments

TKMS ATLAS UK provides innovative underwater systems for the Royal Navy and international customers. Based on the Jurassic Coast, they combine science, engineering, and R&D to deliver world-class sonar, autonomous, and maritime systems. Their collaborative culture values technical excellence, integrity, and continuous development.

They offer:

• Competitive salary
• Career development and training opportunities
• Pension with up to 1.5x employer contributions
• 25 days annual leave (increasing to 28 after 5 years and 30 after 10 years)
• Dental cover & Employee Assistance Programme
• Flexible, part-time, full-time, and condensed working options where applicable

The successful candidate must be eligible for full Security Clearance (SC).

At TKMS ATLAS UK, we support our staff to create work-life balance and encourage applications from individuals seeking part-time, condensed, or full-time opportunities.