Head of Product Engineering

A successful and growing manufacturing business is seeking a Head of Product Engineering to lead its product development function and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of its product portfolio. This is an opportunity to influence business strategy, drive innovation and lead a talented team of engineers working on the development, validation and implementation of market-leading products.

Reporting into the senior leadership team, you will combine strategic leadership with hands-on technical expertise, ensuring engineering activities deliver safe, compliant, high-quality products while supporting wider business objectives.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Defining and implementing the engineering strategy in line with business and product goals.
• Establishing engineering standards, methodologies, and processes that drive a right-first-time culture.
• Leading engineering activities from concept and research through design, verification, validation, and manufacturing implementation.
• Owning technical decision-making, product performance, materials selection, and engineering governance.
• Driving product improvement, value engineering, and continuous innovation across existing and future product ranges.
• Ensuring compliance with relevant standards, regulations, and industry requirements.
• Leading design reviews, engineering change processes, risk assessments, and technical file management.
• Collaborating with programme management, product management, manufacturing, quality, suppliers, and external partners to deliver successful outcomes.
• Supporting research programmes and technology development initiatives that strengthen long-term business capability.
• Creating and protecting intellectual property while maintaining robust technical documentation.

Our client is seeking someone with a record of leading engineering teams and delivering complex products within a highly regulated manufacturing environment.

You'll ideally bring:

• Degree qualification in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Significant experience leading engineering and product development teams.
• A strong background in delivering products within highly regulated industries.
• Extensive knowledge of manufacturing processes including injection moulding, extrusion, machining, and related production techniques.
• Strong understanding of verification and validation, design for manufacture, reliability engineering, root cause analysis, risk management and product lifecycle management.
• Experience using 3D CAD, CAE, and PDM systems such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or Vault.
• Excellent leadership, coaching, and people development skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to balance technical, operational, and business priorities.

Our client is offering a competitive numeration package up to £75,000, 25 days holiday + stats, company pension and other benefits.