Head of Engineering
The Whitehead Partnership
Stoke-on-Trent, England, United Kingdom
As the Engineering Manager, you will lead a high-performing engineering team, manage technical operations, and drive innovation in product design, NPI, and manufacturing. You will be responsible for aligning engineering strategies with company goals, ensuring the efficient delivery of projects, and fostering an environment of continuous improvement. Responsibilities: Lead and manage the engineering team to foster innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Set clear goals and maintain high technical standards while promoting an inclusive and efficient culture. Develop and implement engineering strategies that align with company goals to drive the engineering department's growth and success. Work with the commercial team and customers to understand technical requirements, manage product design and development, ensure accurate costings, and make sure products meet customer needs, industry standards, and are cost-effective. Lead NPI processes, ensuring seamless coordination between engineering, production, and other cross-functional teams. Represent Engineering during contract review meetings and provide technical input. Work closely with cross-functional teams (production, quality assurance, and sales) to ensure successful project delivery. Optimise engineering processes to ensure efficiency, maintain high-quality standards, and promote continuous improvement in product development. Provide technical support and resolve engineering challenges, both internally and externally, ensuring projects remain on track. Manage department resources, including budgeting, staffing, and scheduling, to meet current and future project needs. Track and report on performance goals (KPI s) to monitor progress, measure success, and identify areas for improvement. Partner with Production and Quality teams to identify opportunities for reducing build times and improving quality through innovation, process design, and lean manufacturing. Ensure SOP s, BOM s, test programs, and technical drawings are up-to-date and technically sound. Experience: 5+ years of experience in an engineering leadership role preferably in electromechanical, cable harness assembly or technical manufacturing environments Strong knowledge of industry standards, including ISO 9001 and AS9100 (desirable) Proven expertise in product design, manufacturing processes, and project management