Design Manager

An established machinery manufacturer is seeking an experienced Mechanical Design Manager to lead its mechanical design department.

The business delivers multiple machinery projects each year, with fabrication and manufacturing carried out in-house. This role suits someone who combines a strong mechanical design background with proven people management and the ability to keep several projects moving through design and into manufacture.

The emphasis is on department management and delivery, with approximately 5–10% of the role involving hands‑on design.

• Lead an experienced team of mechanical design engineers, providing clear priorities, direction and accountability.
• Plan and allocate design workloads across multiple concurrent machinery projects.
• Monitor progress against agreed deadlines, budgets and design costs.
• Challenge estimates, identify delays early and address issues before they affect delivery.
• Coordinate closely with manufacturing and the workshop to ensure designs progress effectively into production.
• Conduct appraisals, set KPIs and performance objectives, and manage day‑to‑day team requirements.
• Work alongside senior leadership to coordinate mechanical design with electrical, software, testing and service activities.
• Undertake occasional design work where this supports delivery and keeps the wider team focused.

• Proven experience managing a mechanical design department as a Design Manager, Engineering Manager or equivalent.
• A strong mechanical design background, ideally having progressed through design and senior engineering roles.
• Experience with in machinery, special‑purpose equipment or a comparable project‑led SME/OEM environment.
• Ability to manage several projects with short turnaround times and changing priorities.
• Strong scheduling, workload planning and performance management skills.
• Commercial awareness of engineering time, project budgets and delivery costs.
• Willingness to remain technically involved and work closely with manufacturing.
• Experience using 3D CAD. The business uses Inventor and AutoCAD, although candidates with Solid Works experience will also be considered.

• £50,000–£60,000 basic salary.
• Potential to discuss a performance‑related bonus.
• 21 days’ annual leave plus eight bank holidays.
• Company pension.
• Employer‑funded Bupa private healthcare for the employee and immediate family after three months’ probation.
• Potential hybrid working of one or two days per week after the initial three months, subject to performance and operational requirements.