Design Manager

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Design Manager to lead a busy mechanical design team within a growing manufacturer of bespoke automation and CNC machine solutions for high-precision aerospace and industrial components.

This is a hands-on leadership role, ideal for a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer looking to combine technical excellence with team management.

You'll oversee the delivery of multiple engineering projects from concept through to manufacture, ensuring designs are innovative, practical and delivered on time. Working closely with production, applications and project teams, you'll drive continuous improvement and support the development of new products and engineering standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and develop the mechanical design team while remaining actively involved in design activities of multi-process manufacturing systems.

• Manage projects from concept through manufacture, ensuring design quality, technical compliance and on-time delivery.
• Evolve and improve processes whilst retaining an agile working environment, ensuinge delivery on time first time.
• Ensure Bills of Materials (BOMs), drawings and engineering documentation are accurate and maintained throughout the project lifecycle, using 3D CAD e.g. Inventor.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, procurement and project teams to deliver practical, cost-effective engineering solutions.

About You

You'll have extensive experience in mechanical design within a manufacturing or automation environment and be confident leading and engaging engineers whilst managing multiple projects. Strong 3D CAD experience is essential (e.g. Inventor), along with excellent communication and problem-solving skills. Above all, a strong sense of accountability is a must.

Experience of CNC machine tools would be highly advantageous but is not essential; candidates from bespoke machinery, special purpose machinery or industrial automation backgrounds are equally encouraged to apply.

Keywords: Design Manager, Senior Mechanical Design Engineer, Mechanical Design, CAD, SolidWorks, Manufacturing, Automation, Special Purpose Machinery, CNC Machine Tools, BOM, Design for Manufacture, Engineering Manager.