Lead Design Engineer / Manager

Our client is the UK's market leader in the manufacture of customer-focused vehicles mounted equipment. We are seeking a Lead Principal Design Engineer / Manager to take ownership of the mechanical design function at a management level reporting into the Technical Director. This is a lead role, managing a small mechanical design team while remaining technically "hands-on" to ensure the design and engineering integrity of every vehicle that leaves the site. *As the Lead Design Engineer, you must have Fabrication expertise in sheet metal and platework ideally. The primary challenge in this role is to address a critical departmental bottleneck: designs are currently transitioning to production without fully engineered drawings. We need a structural specialist with a management mindset who can overhaul design standards and implement the necessary discipline to ensure every CAD release is 100% manufacture-ready. You will introduce the structure and technical standards (BS8888) required to ensure that complex mechanical designs move seamlessly from concept to the job-shop floor. Key Responsibilities Design Excellence: Design & Develop concepts & Prototypes and feasilbility modelllings. Create and oversee comprehensive part, assembly, and installation drawings. You will be the final gatekeeper for quality, cost, and performance targets. Leadership & Mentorship: Manage a small team of designers with a dedicated focus on professional development-mentoring them in technical standards, fabrication logic, and industry best practices. Lifecycle Management: Manage the full design lifecycle-from concept and BOM management to engineering change (ECN) and release workflows. Production Liaison: Work closely with the Technical Director and the production teams to optimise designs for sheet metal and platework fabrication. Innovation: Actively research and implement new technologies and "error-proofing" techniques to improve vehicle performance and manufacturability. Technical Requirements & Mindset Fabrication Expertise: A heavy-duty background in sheet metal and platework is essential. You must understand how metal behaves during the folding, welding, and assembly processes. Industry Context: Experience within vehicle manufacturingis a significant advantage. Expert-level proficiency in SolidWorks is essential for this role. Analytical Leadership: Ability to use risk-mitigation tools and Continuous Improvement (CI) methodologies to prevent design failures before they reach production. Deep understanding of BS8888 / GD&T drawing standards and safety policies within a manufacturing environment. Qualifications Degree in Engineering or Manufacturing preferred. Why Join? This is an opportunity to move into a management-level position where you aren't just maintaining a system, but actively building it. You will have the autonomy to define the "Gold Standard" for a market leader and see your engineering decisions reflected in high-value vehicles on the road. Benefits include: Competitive salary up to £65,000 per annum, free on-site parking, and a direct reporting line to the Technical Director. #design #designengineering #mechanicaldesign