Design Manager

I am currently partnering with a well-established and highly respected manufacturing business to appoint an experienced Design Manager. This is a key leadership role within the organisation, responsible for driving technical excellence, managing a multi-disciplinary design team, and ensuring the successful delivery of innovative, high-quality engineered products.

This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially aware design professional who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and is motivated by continuous improvement, product innovation, and team development.

As Design Manager, you will take full ownership of the design function, overseeing projects from concept through to production. You will ensure that designs are technically robust, commercially viable, and aligned with customer and regulatory requirements.

You will work cross-functionally with Production, Operations, Sales, Quality, and Supply Chain to ensure smooth transition from design into manufacture, while continuously improving processes and standards within the department.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and develop a team of design engineers and technical staff
• Oversee the full product development lifecycle from concept to production
• Ensure designs meet performance, cost, quality and compliance requirements
• Manage design budgets, resources and project timelines
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement across design processes
• Review and approve technical drawings, specifications and documentation
• Collaborate with customers and stakeholders to translate requirements into technical solutions
• Ensure compliance with relevant industry standards and regulatory frameworks
• Support manufacturing teams with technical expertise during production phases
• Implement and maintain design best practice, governance and change control processes

The Ideal Candidate

• Proven experience in a Design Manager or senior design leadership position within a manufacturing or engineering environment
• Strong technical background, ideally with a degree in Engineering or related discipline
• Demonstrable experience managing multi-disciplinary design teams
• Solid understanding of manufacturing processes and design for manufacture (DFM) principles
• Experience with modern CAD systems and product lifecycle management tools
• Strong project management and organisational skills
• Commercial awareness and ability to balance technical excellence with cost control
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills