Head of Design
17 days ago
Cambridge
Head of Design – Mechanical Engineering Location: Cambridge Salary: £65,000 – £75,000 + performance-based bonus + benefits Overview: We are seeking an experienced Head of Design to lead our Design Department in developing high-quality, innovative, and commercially competitive products for the food industry. The role combines hands-on design with leadership responsibilities, mentoring engineers, and driving continuous improvement across design processes. Key Responsibilities: • Lead the creation of 3D parts and assemblies in SolidWorks, producing comprehensive manufacturing drawing packs, including BOMs, laser profiles, and work orders., • Develop and implement design standards, processes, and best practices to ensure consistency, efficiency, and compliance with legislation and company standards., • Review and approve drawings, conduct design reviews, and ensure data quality across the team., • Plan and coordinate the daily activities of the design team, providing guidance and resolving technical queries., • Mentor and develop junior engineers, fostering a culture of knowledge sharing and continuous improvement., • Work closely with Project Engineers to ensure projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to quality standards., • Capture design changes from manufacturing, installation, or commissioning and incorporate them into future designs., • Liaise with customers and suppliers for design reviews, approvals, and sourcing of materials and components., • Conduct site visits for surveys and customer liaison., • Identify cost-saving opportunities and improvements in manufacturing processes and product designs., • Support cross-functional teams with technical expertise and contribute to departmental KPIs and performance monitoring. Requirements: • Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent industry experience., • Proven senior design engineering experience in a manufacturing environment, including transferring bespoke designs into production., • Experience leading or mentoring a design team and delivering projects to schedule, budget, and quality requirements., • Proficiency in SolidWorks 3D and AutoCAD 2D; experience with sheet metal and fabrication design desirable., • Knowledge of the food processing equipment industry advantageous. Skills & Attributes: • Strong problem-solving, organisational, and time-management skills., • Ability to generate innovative, technically differentiated solutions., • Understanding of system integration and business impact of design decisions., • Excellent communication skills for cross-functional and external collaboration., • Willingness to travel and work flexible hours, including occasional weekends. Benefits: • Competitive salary £65,000 – £75,000 + performance-based bonus, • 25 days holiday + bank holidays, • Pension scheme, • Professional development and career progression opportunities