Lead Design Engineer / Manager

Our client is the UK's market leader in the manufacture of customer-focused vehicles mounted equipment. We are seeking a Lead Principal Design Engineer / Manager to take ownership of the mechanical design function at a management level reporting into the Technical Director.
This is a lead role, managing a small mechanical design team while remaining technically "hands-on" to ensure the design and engineering integrity of every vehicle that leaves the site.

*As the Lead Design Engineer, you must have Fabrication expertise in sheet metal and platework ideally.

The primary challenge in this role is to address a critical departmental bottleneck: designs are currently transitioning to production without fully engineered drawings.

We need a structural specialist with a management mindset who can overhaul design standards and implement the necessary discipline to ensure every CAD release is 100% manufacture-ready. You will introduce the structure and technical standards (BS8888) required to ensure that complex mechanical designs move seamlessly from concept to the job-shop floor.

Key Responsibilities

Design Excellence: Design & Develop concepts & Prototypes and feasilbility modelllings.
Create and oversee comprehensive part, assembly, and installation drawings. You will be the final gatekeeper for quality, cost, and performance targets.

Leadership & Mentorship: Manage a small team of designers with a dedicated focus on professional development-mentoring them in technical standards, fabrication logic, and industry best practices.

Lifecycle Management: Manage the full design lifecycle-from concept and BOM management to engineering change (ECN) and release workflows.

Production Liaison: Work closely with the Technical Director and the production teams to optimise designs for sheet metal and platework fabrication.

Innovation: Actively research and implement new technologies and "error-proofing" techniques to improve vehicle performance and manufacturability.

Technical Requirements & Mindset

Fabrication Expertise: A heavy-duty background in sheet metal and platework is essential. You must understand how metal behaves during the folding, welding, and assembly processes.

Industry Context: Experience within vehicle manufacturingis a significant advantage.

Expert-level proficiency in SolidWorks is essential for this role.

Analytical Leadership: Ability to use risk-mitigation tools and Continuous Improvement (CI) methodologies to prevent design failures before they reach production.

Deep understanding of BS8888 / GD&T drawing standards and safety policies within a manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

Degree in Engineering or Manufacturing preferred.

Why Join?

This is an opportunity to move into a management-level position where you aren't just maintaining a system, but actively building it. You will have the autonomy to define the "Gold Standard" for a market leader and see your engineering decisions reflected in high-value vehicles on the road.

Benefits include: Competitive salary up to £65,000 per annum, free on-site parking, and a direct reporting line to the Technical Director.
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