Head of Design in Wakefield, West Yorkshire

The Opportunity

My client is a well-established UK engineering and fabrication business delivering bespoke, high-integrity engineered solutions to clients across critical industrial sectors. The work is project-driven, technically demanding and quality-focused, with close collaboration between design, fabrication and project delivery teams.

They are now looking to appoint a Head of Design to provide experienced technical leadership within an established mechanical design function.

The Role
This is a senior engineering leadership position with responsibility for setting technical standards, guiding design direction and developing an existing team of design engineers. The role supports the continued growth of a specialist engineered product range and involves close working with manufacturing, quality and project teams.

The position combines strong engineering judgement with people leadership rather than day-to-day detailing.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and support an existing design team through guidance, review and shared problem-solving

• Provide technical oversight and feedback to ensure consistent, high-quality design outputs

• Set and uphold engineering and design standards, processes and best practice

• Review and approve complex designs, calculations and technical documentation

• Work closely with fabrication, quality, project and commercial teams to ensure designs are practical, compliant and buildable

• Drive continuous improvement within the design function, including tools, workflows and capability development

• Act as the senior technical authority for specialist engineered projects

Candidate Profile

• Strong background in mechanical design engineering within complex, fabricated or engineered products

• Experience operating as a senior or lead engineer, with responsibility for developing and supporting other engineers

• Comfortable providing technical leadership and oversight rather than hands-on CAD work

• Good understanding of fabrication methods, materials, tolerances and manufacturing processes

• Able to balance technical rigour with commercial and delivery requirements

• Chartered Engineer status would be advantageous, but not essential