Head of Engineering (NPI, Technical, Design)

About the role

The Head of Engineering (NPI, Technical, Design) will lead engineering and new product introduction initiatives within a medium‑size manufacturing organisation. Reporting to senior leadership, you will shape strategy, drive innovation and ensure seamless delivery from design through to production.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the engineering and NPI teams to deliver projects on time, within budget and to specification.
• Develop and implement strategies for new product development and continuous process improvement.
• Oversee design, testing and production phases of new products, ensuring compliance with industry standards.
• Manage the Design & R&D department budget (CAPEX and OPEX) and investment cases for facilities, tools and headcount.
• Ensure health & safety standards are met across Design, R&D and Test facilities.
• Partner with Commercial, Purchasing, Operations/Manufacturing and Quality to align product pipelines and resolve escalations.
• Provide technical guidance, mentorship and leadership to engineering staff.

Required profile

• Proven senior engineering leadership experience within the manufacturing sector.
• Track record of delivering complex NPI projects and managing multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing industry standards, compliance requirements and product development methodologies.
• Qualified mechanical engineer or equivalent discipline.
• Excellent problem‑solving, decision‑making and stakeholder communication skills.

Required skills

• Mechanical engineering
• New product introduction (NPI) processes