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Engineering Manager – Product & Sustaining (Mechanical) Kent | Hybrid working | Up to c.£75,000 + package Contact: Emily Powell, Associate Director at Pearson Whiffin Recruitment Are you an experienced Engineering Manager who thrives on leading teams, solving real-world product challenges, and keeping critical products performing in the field? This is a key leadership role within a highly regulated manufacturing environment, focused on sustaining existing products rather than new product development. If you enjoy problem-solving, technical leadership and developing engineers, this could be a strong fit. The Role You’ll take ownership of a well-established engineering team, leading the ongoing support and improvement of a complex product portfolio. Your focus will include: Leading a team of c.10 engineers, driving performance, engagement and development Acting as a technical authority across mechanical design and product issues Managing real-world challenges such as material shortages, quality issues and field failures Ensuring products remain compliant, manufacturable and commercially viable Driving continuous improvement across processes, capability and output Working cross-functionally with quality, operations and supply chain to resolve issues quickly and effectively This is a role where you’ll be close to the detail, not just managing from a distance. What We’re Looking For We’re keen to speak with candidates who bring a strong blend of technical depth and proven leadership. Key experience: Background in Mechanical or Biomedical Engineering (or similar) Proven experience managing multi-disciplinary engineering teams (6–10+ reports) Strong understanding of design-led engineering environments (not purely process/production) Experience within a regulated industry (medical devices highly desirable) Exposure to plastic moulding, materials or tooling would be a significant advantage Comfortable operating in a sustaining / in-market product environment rather than NPI Leadership style: A steady, collaborative leader who can integrate into an established team Confident in coaching, mentoring and managing performance Pragmatic, solutions-focused and calm under pressure Focused on continuous improvement, not unnecessary disruption Why This Role? Lead a stable, well-performing team with real ownership Work on products already in the market, solving meaningful challenges Influence both technical direction and team development Join a business operating within a highly regulated, quality-driven environment Hybrid working with a strong balance of on-site collaboration and flexibility Location & Package Kent-based role (hybrid – typically a minimum of 2 days on-site) Salary up to c.£75,000 with some flexibility for the right person Competitive wider benefits package Important Considerations This role is not suited to candidates focused purely on NPI or innovation-led environments You must be comfortable with a hands-on, problem-solving sustaining environment If you’re an Engineering Manager who enjoys leading from the front, developing teams and solving complex product challenges, we’d love to have a confidential conversation