Industrial Design Manager

We are seeking a Technical Design Manager to lead and coordinate design, workshop and project delivery activities within a hands-on, build-led environment. This role sits at the intersection of design, fabrication/manufacture and installation, ensuring that concepts are technically robust, commercially viable and deliverable in the real world.

The successful candidate will act as a key technical authority, translating design intent into practical solutions while managing people, processes and interfaces across design, production and site teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate technical design activities, ensuring designs are fit for purpose, buildable and cost-effective
• Manage and support CAD/design resource (in-house and external), reviewing output for quality, compliance and practicality
• Work closely with workshop and fabrication teams to ensure smooth transition from design to manufacture
• Support value engineering, problem-solving and continuous improvement initiatives
• Oversee technical input across projects from enquiry through delivery
• Act as a technical interface with clients, contractors, consultants and suppliers
• Ensure health & safety, quality and technical standards are embedded throughout the design and build process

Required Experience

• Strong background in a manufacturing, fabrication, metalwork, events, architectural, build or engineering environment
• Proven experience managing or coordinating technical design within a delivery-led business
• Hands-on understanding of manufacturing / fabrication processes and site constraints
• Experience working with CAD systems (e.g. AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Inventor, Creo, Tekla or similar)
• Track record of working cross-functionally with design, production and project teams
• Comfortable operating in a pragmatic, fast-moving environment where solutions must work on the shop floor

Ideal (but not essential)

• Experience leading a design or engineering team
• Background progressing from hands-on engineering/fabrication into management
• Exposure to value engineering, forecasting, planning or resource management
• Formal engineering qualification or equivalent practical experience