Head of Product Development (Engineering)

Head of Product Development (Engineering) West Kent | Competitive Salary + Bonus + Benefits Drive Innovation. Own Product Design. See Your Work in the Real World. We’re working with a growing, engineering-led manufacturer delivering high-performance physical products into demanding, real-world environments. This is not theoretical design — these are products that must perform, comply, and last. They are now looking for a hands-on Product Development leader to take ownership of R&D, design engineering, and continuous product improvement. The Role This is a design and development-led engineering role at its core. You’ll be responsible for: Leading new product development (NPD) from concept through to manufacture Owning design decisions, materials selection, and product performance Driving product improvement and value engineering across existing ranges Translating real customer and site requirements into practical, manufacturable designs Embedding structured R&D and innovation processes into the business Working closely with production to ensure design for manufacture (DFM) and assembly (DFA) This is a role for someone who still enjoys being close to the detail — CAD, problem-solving, testing, refining — not just managing from a distance. What They’re Looking For You’ll likely come from a product-focused engineering background, where you’ve designed and developed physical, manufactured products. Typical backgrounds could include: Building products / construction systems Fabricated metal or structural products Automotive or mechanical equipment Rail, infrastructure, utilities or similar regulated environments You’ll bring: Proven experience delivering NPD projects end-to-end (concept → production) Strong 3D CAD capability (SolidWorks, Inventor or similar) A deep understanding of materials, manufacturing processes and product performance Experience with DFM / DFA and engineering optimisation Exposure to testing, validation, FEA or simulation tools A mindset focused on improving, evolving and challenging designs Leadership experience is important — but this is not a “sit back” role. You’ll still be hands-on in design and development work. The Environment Growing SME with strong technical ambition Loyal, long-standing team and collaborative culture Opportunity to shape how products are designed and developed Fast-moving, where ideas can actually be implemented The business is particularly suited to someone who: Enjoys building and improving products, not maintaining legacy designs Is naturally curious, forward-thinking and commercially aware Wants to make a visible impact on a product range and engineering function Why Join? Genuine ownership of product development and R&D direction A role where your designs will be built, used and seen Strong influence across engineering, operations and commercial teams Clear opportunity to modernise and elevate the engineering function This is an urgent hire and interviews will move quickly for the right profile. For a confidential discussion, contact Emily or Sammy at PWR