Hays is working in partnership with a leading manufacturing organisation. Due to continued growth and product development activity, they are seeking an experienced Engineering Manager to lead the mechanical design function and support the delivery ofplex, safety‑critical equipment to global customers.
Your New RoleAs Engineering Manager, you will take full responsibility for the mechanical engineering function, leading a multidisciplinary team through theplete product development lifecycle. You will act as the technical authority for mechanical design, ensuringpliance with international standards while driving innovation, efficiency and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities
1. Lead the mechanical engineering team responsible for the design and development of ground support equipment
2. Oversee engineering projects from concept, through detailed design, validation and release to production
3. Allocate engineering resources effectively across multiple concurrent projects
4. Ensure engineering deliverables are achieved on time, within scope and to agreed budgets
5. Provide technical leadership and sound engineering judgement onplex design challenges
6. Support new product development and product enhancement programmes
7. Conduct performance reviews and support structured career development planning
8. Foster a culture of technical excellence, accountability and continuous improvement
9. Support the recruitment, onboarding and development of engineering talent
10. Ensure all mechanical designs meet customer specifications and applicable regulations, including EN12312, EN1915 and Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC
11. Approve mechanical design outputs, including drawings, calculations, specifications and technical documentation
12. Oversee andern the Engineering Change Order (ECO) process
13. Lead formal design review gates (concept, preliminary and critical design reviews)
14. Ensure robust design verification and validation ispleted prior to release to manufacture
15. Ensure designs are optimised for manufacturability, assembly and serviceability (DFMA)
16. Work closely with manufacturing teams to resolve build issues and improve production efficiency
17. Support value engineering initiatives to enhance costpetitiveness
18. Collaborate with Supply Chain to supportponent standardisation and supplier integration
19. Work closely with Electrical and Software/PLC Engineering teams to deliver fully integrated system designs
20. Collaborate with Sales and Product Management on customer‑specific technical requirements
21. Support After‑Sales and Customer Care teams by translating field feedback and warranty data into design improvements
22. Contribute to cross‑department initiatives that drive operational excellence
23. Drive ongoing improvement of engineering processes, systems and workflows
24. Promote design standardisation, modular architectures andponent reuse
25. Support innovation in materials, mechanical design and manufacturing technologies
26. Identify opportunities to improve product performance, reliability and sustainability
27. Define, track and report KPIs related to delivery, quality, efficiency and cost
What You’ll Need to Succeed
28. Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline
29. Significant experience designing heavy equipment within a manufacturing or OEM environment
30. Minimum of 7 years’ leadership experience within an engineering function
31. Strong experience using 3D CAD systems (SolidWorks, Creo or similar) and document control processes
32. Solid understanding of manufacturing processes, structural design, mechanical assemblies and hydraulics
33. Proven experience managing engineering projects across the full product development lifecycle
34. Strong knowledge of regulated engineering environments and safety standards
35. Demonstrated experience driving engineering process improvements or design standardisation initiatives
What You’ll Get in Return
36. A senior leadership role within a well‑respected engineering manufacturer
37. The opportunity to shape engineering strategy and influence product direction
38. Long-term career progression within a growing organisation