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.

Ready to make your application Please do read through the description at least once before clicking on Apply.

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. xwzovoh

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