Lead Design Engineer

Lead Design Engineer Job (Principal Design Engineer) Available via Senex Recruitment in Whitstable, Kent

An exciting opportunity awaits a Lead Design Engineer to join a well-established manufacturing company in Whitstable, Kent. With a competitive salary of around £60,000, this role offers the chance to lead a team dedicated to innovative Design and New Product Development (NPD), while supporting New Product Introduction (NPI).

Why Apply for This Lead Design Engineer Job?

As a Lead Design Engineer (potentially titled Principal Design Engineer), you’ll have a pivotal role in shaping the future of this successful company. This is an opportunity to bring your technical expertise and design skills to the forefront, making a real impact on the company’s growth and success in the manufacturing industry.

Key Responsibilities in the Lead Design Engineer Role

Team Leadership: Lead and inspire a team specializing in product development, NPD, and design for manufacture. Ensure all products meet rigorous standards and exceed client expectations.

Product Development Process: Manage the end-to-end design and product development process—from concept through to final manufacturing drawings, ensuring seamless execution.

Client Collaboration: Work closely with clients and the internal sales team to deliver custom product solutions, managing each project from the initial briefing through to manufacturing handover.

Design Archive Management: Maintain detailed design archives and recommend improvements to enhance efficiency and accuracy.

Best Practice Implementation: Champion best practices within the design team, continuously raising the bar for quality and process efficiency.

Innovative Problem Solving: Address design challenges with creativity, continually refining the design-for-manufacture process.

Cost Reduction and Lead Time Improvement: Support initiatives to reduce production costs and lead times through smart design strategies.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with various departments, particularly production engineering, to ensure product manufacturability aligns with production goals.

Team Support and Mentorship: Provide mentorship and guidance to your team, fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment.

About You and Your Design Experience

You bring a solid background in mechanical design using top CAD software like Inventor or SolidWorks. You may have worked as a Principal, Supervisor, Manager, or Team Leader in a design department, or perhaps you’re a Senior Design Engineer or Lead Design Engineer eager to step into a leadership role. A qualification in engineering, such as a degree, HND, or HNC, is essential.

Your communication skills are positive, clear, and engaging, making you an ideal representative for the company. You lead by example, fostering innovation within your team and offering support when needed. You take pride in your work and ownership of your team’s accomplishments.

What’s in It for You?

This role offers not just a competitive salary and benefits package—including a pension, 25 days of holiday, and onsite facilities—but also the chance to advance your skills in a secure and expanding company with in-house manufacturing capabilities. If you’re looking to make a meaningful impact within a supportive environment, this could be the role for you.

Ready to Apply?

Excited to take on this opportunity as a Lead Design Engineer (or Principal Design Engineer)? Apply now to enjoy a salary of around £60K plus benefits, including pension and onsite parking.

For more information, or to personalize your application with a direct introduction, reach out to Kevin McHugh at Senex Recruitment on 01424 211872.