Engineering Manager

Benefits:
Pension Salary Sacrifice Scheme, Life Assurance, Cycle to Work Scheme, Company Sick Pay, Corporate Eyecare vouchers, Health Care Cashplan

IrvinGQ is a world-leading supplier of parachutes, aerial delivery systems and naval decoys to customers around the world. We create innovative products that our customers know they can rely on in highly challenging conditions where there are no second chances. Our systems must work right first time, every time. If you want to be part of a collaborative and supportive team that helps customers achieve their goals through great engineering that stands out from the crowd and are looking for your next challenge, then we want to hear from you!

As Engineering Manager, you will lead multidisciplinary, high-performing teams in the design, development, and delivery of proprietary, safety-critical components and systems for the defence and aerospace sectors. This role requires a strategic and hands-on leader with a strong technical foundation, accountable for the delivery of complex engineering portfolios including R&D and customer-contracted work.

You will be responsible for resource planning, budget ownership, and performance monitoring, while driving continuous improvement and innovation across the department. As a key member of the Business Management Team, you will work closely with the Business Unit Manager and other functional leaders to achieve the business unit’s operational, financial, technical and strategic objectives.

• Lead, mentor, and coach a multidisciplinary engineering team.
• Conduct regular 1:1s, develop succession plans and support professional growth through targeted training and competency frameworks.
• Promote a culture of ownership, accountability and empowerment.
• Build morale, retain talent, and create a positive team environment.

• Oversee the full portfolio of engineering projects, including R&D and customer-contracted work.
• Monitor and assess project risks, communicating issues to stakeholders to support informed decision making and risk mitigation.
• Ensure the engineering department applies the company’s NPI process and associated governance requirements, including appropriate design assurance, configuration control, verification and validation throughout the product-development and project lifecycle.
• Instil ownership and accountability into the team to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.
• Proactively identify and remove obstacles to maintain project momentum and meet delivery timelines.
• Ensure engineering activities comply with relevant defence and aerospace standards and regulatory requirements.

• Own the engineering forward load, balancing priorities and allocating resources effectively.
• Manage the engineering overhead budget, ensuring accurate cost allocation and adherence to outlook and plan.
• Strategically hire and onboard personnel to meet current and future project demands.

• Act as a key member of the Business Management Team, working closely with the Business Unit Manager and other functional leaders to develop and deliver the business unit strategy and achieve sales, EBITDA, delivery and operational objectives.
• Provide engineering leadership within the business unit, ensuring engineering priorities, resources, technical risks and delivery plans are aligned with business commitments and strategic objectives.
• Support all functions of the business by providing engineering leadership, technical expertise and cross functional collaboration to ensure the successful delivery of projects and strategic initiatives.
• Work closely with the Business Unit Manager to…