Design for Manufacture Engineer

Spacestor; Hemel Hempstead; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading furniture manufacturer in Hemel Hempstead seeks a Design for Manufacture Engineer to lead innovation in furniture design. The role focuses on process improvements, cost reduction, and collaboration with international teams. Candidates should possess extensive experience in bespoke office furniture manufacturing and strong leadership skills. Knowledge of joinery and modular systems is essential. This position offers unique opportunities to impact design processes and product quality.

Benefits

Training and development opportunities

Collaborative work culture

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in product development or design within manufacturing environment.
• Strong background in design and manufacture of bespoke office furniture.
• Experience with product lifecycle management from ideation to launch.

Responsibilities

• Lead and collaborate with engineering teams for manufacturable products.
• Stay ahead of industry trends to inform manufacturing decisions.
• Oversee product lifecycle and identify improvement opportunities.
• Provide training and mentor teams for efficient manufacturing.

Job description

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Design for Manufacture Engineer, Hemel Hempstead

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Client:

Spacestor

Location:

Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

988e040978ef

Job Views:

5

Posted:

12.08.2025

Expiry Date:

26.09.2025

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Job Description:

About the Company
Spacestor are creators of workspace furniture that combines California cool with London Design. We reward all individuals with more than just a salary; we train and develop, listen to each other’s ideas, we empower, we collaborate. We embrace every individual’s unique talent and skills set and this wealthy resource is valued, opening many new paths to future successes.

About Our Culture
We have a culture of modesty and humility; we work hard;we’repassionate, we love what we do; the client is always king; we have a culture of care for our staff.

About our EmployeesAs a member of theteamwe expect all our employees to embraceand work withthecompanycore values:

Purpose of the Role
The Design for Manufacture Engineer is responsible for leading the design for manufacture function, driving innovation in materials, manufacturing processes, and assembly techniques. This includes expertise in joinery and a strong background in furniture manufacturing, with a focus on improving product designs for ease of manufacture, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency. The role involves collaborating with both UK and US teams, as well as with suppliers and manufacturing partners to ensure products are competitively designed, easy to assemble, and meet quality standards within budget constraints.

Job Description Overview:The focus of this role is designing custom furniture products (particularly from our Pods and Booths ranges) to suit customer specific requirements for large projects. This is often achieved by adapting existing products designs rather than designing from scratch. Typical responsibilities for a special project would include detailed CAD design of the custom product, physical prototypes/trials asrequired, and all relevant documentation (eg.shop drawings, part manufacture drawings, BOMs, etc). There will be close interaction with the Operations and Production teams, to ensurethe products get manufactured and delivered to site correctly.Occasional site visits may berequiredto instruct installation teams. There will be other product design/developmentprojects in between the larger customer specific projects.


Key Responsibilities

About the Company
Spacestor are creators of workspace furniture that combines California cool with London Design. We reward all individuals with more than just a salary; we train and develop, listen to each other’s ideas, we empower, we collaborate. We embrace every individual’s unique talent and skills set and this wealthy resource is valued, opening many new paths to future successes.

About Our Culture
We have a culture of modesty and humility; we work hard;we’repassionate, we love what we do; the client is always king; we have a culture of care for our staff.

About our EmployeesAs a member of theteamwe expect all our employees to embraceand work withthecompanycore values:

Purpose of the Role
The Design for Manufacture Engineer is responsible for leading the design for manufacture function, driving innovation in materials, manufacturing processes, and assembly techniques. This includes expertise in joinery and a strong background in furniture manufacturing, with a focus on improving product designs for ease of manufacture, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency. The role involves collaborating with both UK and US teams, as well as with suppliers and manufacturing partners to ensure products are competitively designed, easy to assemble, and meet quality standards within budget constraints.

Job Description Overview:The focus of this role is designing custom furniture products (particularly from our Pods and Booths ranges) to suit customer specific requirements for large projects. This is often achieved by adapting existing products designs rather than designing from scratch. Typical responsibilities for a special project would include detailed CAD design of the custom product, physical prototypes/trials asrequired, and all relevant documentation (eg.shop drawings, part manufacture drawings, BOMs, etc). There will be close interaction with the Operations and Production teams, to ensurethe products get manufactured and delivered to site correctly.Occasional site visits may berequiredto instruct installation teams. There will be other product design/developmentprojects in between the larger customer specific projects.


Key Responsibilities

1. Design for Manufacture Leadership:

Lead and collaborate with the Head of Engineering and cross-functional teams to ensure products are manufacturable, with particular focus on joinery and furniture assembly.

Apply a practical approach to manufacturing, ensuring that new designs are technically feasible, cost-effective, and meet product launch timelines.

Ensure that products meet high-quality standards, are functionally efficient, and deliver value to the customer

2. Innovation and Supply Chain Research:

Stay ahead of industry trends, particularly in the furniture and joinery sectors, to inform manufacturing decisions and ensure product competitiveness.

Identify new materials, manufacturing technologies, and techniques to improve product offerings, such as more efficient joinery methods and sustainable material choices.

Research and implement innovative manufacturing techniques, particularly for complex joinery, to reduce costs and increase profit margins.

Work closely with Procurement to streamline supplier process and reduce manufacturing costs through better design and material selection.

Collaborate with the supply chain to ensure components are available and managed, supporting manufacturing processes like kitting and modular assembly.

3. Documentation and Process Improvement:

Parner with product development engineers, CAD technicians, and production teams to ensure that design and function are seamlessly integrated for manufacturability.

Serve as the primary point of contact between product designers, production teams, and suppliers, ensuring smooth communication and alignment throughout the product development cycle.

Work with suppliers and internal teams to ensure that products are designed with modularity in mind, simplifying assembly and reducing manufacturing complexity

Optimize assembly line processes, from component supply through to finished product, ensuring efficiency, accuracy, and quality in the final output.

4. Product Lifecycle and Cost Management:

Oversee the entire product lifecycle, identifying opportunities for improvements in both design and cost reductions, especially within joinery and other manufacturing processes

Maintain focus on the development of efficient assembly processes and component consolidation to minimize parts and assembly time.

Ensure that all products are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of quality, including the creation of precise assembly drawings and accurate BOMs for production.

Consolidation of components to reduce the total number of different parts.

Streamline and simplify products

Regularly assess product performance in the market and apply feedback to inform future design improvements.

5. Team Leadership and Development:

Provide training and mentor product engineers, production operatives and installation teams, ensuring they are equipped with the necessary skills for efficient manufacturing and assembly.

Foster a culture of creativity, innovation, and continuous improvement, particularly in the areas of joinery and furniture manufacturing

Set clear goals for team members and conduct regular performance reviews to ensure alignment with organisational objectives.

6. Reporting and Performance Metrics:

Provide regular reports to senior leadership, including project timelines, costs and any challenges impacting delivery

Develop KPIs to track product development and manufacturing efficiency, with an emphasis on joinery, assembly processes, and cost reduction.

Key Skills and Competencies

Proven leadership skills with experience managing product design teams, particularly within the context of furniture manufacturing and joinery

Deep knowledge of manufacturing processes, especially in joinery, woodwork, and modular furniture systems

Exceptional problem-solving abilities, with the ability to simplify complex designs and manufacturing processes.

Strong project management skills, with experience leading cross-functional teams.

Excellent communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across departments and regions.

Strategic thinking and ability to balance short-term needs with long-term vision

Experience and leadership in reducing the number of processing steps and different suppliers needed for a finished product.

Simplify the production BOM and assembly instructions

Accuracy in BOM data with clear instructions for production teams

Qualifications and Experience

Extensive experience in product development or design within a manufacturing environment, particularly in the future or joinery sectors.

Strong background in the design and manufacture of bespoke office furniture, with a solid understanding of woodwork and joinery techniques.

Experience with product lifecycle management, from ideation through to testing, production, and launch.

Degree in Product Design, Engineering, or a related field

Proven experience leading product development teams across international markets, including both the UK and the US.

Targets and KPIsThe targets for this role will be as follows:

Gross profit margin on finished products to reach 50%

Ensure accurate BOMs and supply chain agreements are in place for each product line.

Products ready for market at launch, with shipping methods, dispatch assemblies, and installation manuals validated through three successful trial builds.

The above targets are subject to review and assessment for suitability each quarter.

It is agreed that the above is a brief and concise description of the job role but that on occasion, the post holder may be asked to complete reasonable management requests, outside of the tasksidentifiedabove, that will aid in the successful delivery of projects.