Head of Engineering

Fortress Recruit are working with a leading defence engineering business in the recruitment of a Head of Engineering, to provide leadership and coordination across the engineering function.

This role focuses on aligning engineering teams, supporting programme delivery and ensuring effective day-to-day engineering performance across multiple disciplines. Working closely with the Engineering Director, you will play a key role in ensuring engineering capability, resource and delivery are aligned to business and customer requirements.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading and coordinating engineering Team Leads across mechanical, electrical, electronics and systems/software disciplines
• Ensuring engineering resource is aligned to live programmes and business priorities
• Working closely with PMO to support delivery of programme milestones and contractual commitments
• Overseeing and monitoring day-to-day engineering performance and capacity, capability, utilisation and delivery
• Maintaining practical and effective engineering processes, standards and governance
• Driving continuous improvement across engineering delivery and ways of working
• Ensuring application of DFMA, FMEA and engineering best practice
• Supporting engineering team development, succession planning and capability growth
• Acting as a key interface between Engineering, PMO, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain and wider business functions
• Supporting engineering reviews, risk management activities and delivery planning

To be considered for this role, you will have:

• Considerable engineering experience, with 6+ years in a leadership role
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary engineering teams in complex engineering environments
• Strong understanding across mechanical, electrical, electronics and systems engineering
• Experience supporting programme delivery, engineering governance and resource planning
• Strong knowledge of DFMA, FMEA and engineering best practices
• Experience managing engineering capacity, utilisation and competing priorities
• Ability to operate effectively within a structured, highly regulated environment
• Eligibility for SC clearance (5 years UK residency with no visa or sponsorship requirement)

This is a people and delivery-focused engineering leadership role, requiring strong technical understanding, structured thinking and the ability to bring clarity, accountability and alignment across teams.

This is a full-time, permanent role based on-site in Poole, with competitive salary, bonus and further training and development opportunity.

For a confidential conversation or to request the full job description, please click apply and send a full copy of your CV to Becki.