Design Manager

Rotork plc; Bath; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and benefits package

Opportunities for professional growth and development

Job summary

Rotork plc in Bath seeks an experienced Design Manager to lead innovative product development from concept to production. This leadership role requires strong technical expertise and the ability to drive teams towards excellence in engineering projects.

The successful candidate will oversee the product lifecycle, ensuring that customer needs and business objectives are met while managing multiple projects. Join Rotork and contribute to a culture of creativity and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in design leadership within a product development environment.
• Strong strategic thinking and decision-making skills.
• Ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams and manage complex projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire a multidisciplinary design and engineering team.
• Oversee the complete product development lifecycle.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring delivery to timelines and budgets.

Skills

Design leadership

Strategic thinking

Project management

Innovation

Job description

We are looking for an experienced Design Manager with a strong Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Product Development background to lead the delivery of innovative, market‑leading products from concept through to production.

This is a high-impact leadership role where you’ll combine technical expertise, strategic thinking, and people leadership to develop solutions that exceed customer expectations while ensuring seamless transition into manufacturing.

As Design Manager, you will play a pivotal role in defining and delivering product development strategies that support both customer and business objectives. Working across global teams, you will champion best‑in‑class design practices, drive continuous improvement, and ensure the successful execution of complex engineering projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire a multidisciplinary design and engineering team, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Translate customer requirements and business objectives into clear design strategies and actionable engineering programmes.
• Oversee the complete product development lifecycle, from concept generation and detailed design through to validation, industrialisation, and product launch.
• Ensure products meet critical‑to‑quality requirements, regulatory standards, and manufacturing feasibility criteria.
• Drive the development of innovative solutions that enhance customer satisfaction across both B2B and B2C markets.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring delivery to agreed timelines, budgets, and performance objectives.
• Collaborate closely with Manufacturing, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, Product Management, and Commercial teams to ensure successful product implementation.
• Support the development and execution of global product strategies aligned with business growth objectives.
• Champion design reviews, risk assessments, and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance product quality and performance.

Qualifications

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience in design leadership within a product development environment, taking concept through to production
• Strong strategic thinking and decision‑making skills
• Ability to lead multi‑disciplinary teams and manage complex projects
• Passion for innovation and delivering exceptional customer value

Why Join Rotork?

• Be part of a global leader in engineering solutions
• Work in a culture that values creativity, collaboration, and excellence
• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.