Engineering Manager

I'm working with a highly technical, precision-engineering business in South Yorkshire that is looking to appoint an Engineering Manager as a key leadership hire.

This is a genuinely hands-on Engineering Manager position within a small, close-knit manufacturing environment. You'll lead a small engineering and design team, but importantly, you won't be sitting behind a desk managing from a distance.

You'll remain technically involved, working closely with engineering, production, planning, projects and customers to make sure the business continues to deliver robust, commercially viable engineering solutions.

• Leading, mentoring and developing a small multi-disciplinary engineering/design team
• Providing technical direction, challenge and support across engineering activities
• Driving consistency and best practice without creating unnecessary bureaucracy
• Managing workload, priorities and engineering delivery across multiple projects
• Overseeing design and engineering input into product delivery
• Ensuring designs are robust, manufacturable and commercially viable
• Working closely with production and shop-floor teams to improve the transition from design into manufacture
• Providing technical oversight, problem solving and risk management across projects
• Supporting customers and senior management on technical and commercial matters
• Taking responsibility for elements of ISO, H&S, building, assets and infrastructure
• Managing external contractors and service providers where required

This would suit someone with a strong mechanical engineering / design engineering background who has moved into, or is ready to take the next step into, engineering leadership.

• A background in Mechanical Engineering, Design Engineering, Product Engineering or similar
• Experience with in an OEM or manufacturing-led environment
• Strong technical understanding of mechanical components and assemblies
• Experience leading, mentoring or developing engineers
• Good understanding of ISO, risk assessment and quality systems
• Awareness of HSE responsibilities within an engineering/manufacturing environment
• The confidence to remain hands-on and technically credible

The personality fit is just as important.

They're looking for an Engineering Manager who leads rather than dictates. Someone who can give people autonomy, build accountability, challenge when required and create an environment where engineers take ownership of their work.

You'll need to be commercially aware, pragmatic and comfortable making decisions in a smaller business where things move quickly and there isn't a process for everything.