Project Manager – Bespoke Machinery / Special Purpose Equipment
Location: Accrington
Rate: Circa £50 per hour (Outside IR35)
Contract Duration: 9–12 months initially
Working Pattern: 4-Day Week (Monday – Thursday)
Hours: 38 hours per week
We are supporting a specialist engineering and manufacturing business in the search for an experienced Senior Project Manager to lead the delivery of complex bespoke machinery and special purpose equipment projects.
Projects involve the design and manufacture of bespoke automated machinery and engineered equipment, delivered from concept through to build, factory acceptance testing and final customer handover.
This role requires a commercially aware Project Manager with a strong background in technical manufacturing environments, ideally involving the design, build and delivery of custom machinery or capital equipment.
You will take ownership of projects from order intake through engineering, manufacture, and final delivery, ensuring successful outcomes for both the customer and the business.
Key Responsibilities
* Take full ownership of end-to-end delivery of bespoke machinery projects
* Manage project schedules, costs, resources, and technical delivery
* Coordinate multi-disciplinary engineering teams including mechanical design, electrical, controls, and manufacturing
* Act as the primary customer interface, managing technical discussions and project updates
* Identify and manage project risks, scope changes, and commercial implications
* Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to specification
* Support key project milestones including design reviews, build phases, FAT, and delivery
Required Experience
* 10+ years’ experience in Project Management within an engineering or technical manufacturing environment
* Proven experience delivering bespoke machinery, special purpose machinery, automation systems, or capital equipment
* Strong understanding of engineering design, manufacturing processes, and project delivery
* Experience managing complex, multi-disciplinary engineering projects
* Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
* Comfortable operating in a customer-facing project leadership role
* Experience in MOD contracts would be beneficia but not essential.
Contract Details
* Circa £50 per hour (Outside IR35)
* 9–12 month contract initially
* 4-day working week (Monday – Thursday)
* 38 hours per week
* Site-based role in Accrington
This contract would suit a hands-on Project Manager who enjoys working closely with engineering teams and taking ownership of technically challenging bespoke machinery projects