Director of Engineering

ZipRecruiter; Manchester; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A technology company in Manchester seeks a Director of Engineering to lead a team focused on RF/Microwave design. Responsibilities include strategic planning, team development, and overseeing product development. The ideal candidate has 10-15 years of engineering experience, including leadership. This role involves significant collaboration across departments to ensure alignment with market needs and technologies.

Qualifications

• 10-15 years of RF/MW engineering experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of RF design principles, mechanical design, and materials science.
• Experience in project management methodologies, including Stage-Gate.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the engineering team, setting objectives to foster innovation.
• Oversee new product development utilizing Stage-Gate methodology.
• Contribute to business budget planning, ensuring engineering investments align with financial objectives.

Skills

RF/Microwave design

Leadership

Strategic planning

Project management

Problem-solving

Effective communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

RF simulation tools

Microsoft Office Applications

CST for electromagnetic modeling

Job description

XMA’s Director of Engineering is a key leadership role responsible for driving engineering innovation, program execution, and team development. This role manages a team of RF/Microwave Design Engineers, Technicians, and technical professionals, providing both strategic oversight and hands-on technical guidance.

With a deep understanding of RF design, mechanical packaging, and manufacturing processes, the Director of Engineering will play a critical role in advancing XMA’s technology roadmap, ensuring that product development aligns with business objectives and customer needs. This position is part of the leadership team, actively contributing to company-wide strategic planning, business budget accountability, and financial decision-making in support of corporate goals.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Serve as a senior company official in strategic planning discussions, providing engineering insights that impact corporate decision-making and future growth initiatives.
2. Contribute to business budget planning, ensuring alignment between engineering investments, product development costs, and overall company financial objectives.
3. Lead and develop the engineering team, setting clear objectives, fostering innovation, and mentoring engineers to drive technical excellence.
4. Establish departmental standards, priorities, and output expectations, balancing strategic oversight and hands-on leadership.
5. Guide the team in the design, development, and testing of RF passive components (e.g., coaxial attenuators) while ensuring manufacturability, reliability, and performance. Your expertise in RF design will be crucial in every step of the process.
6. Drive continuous improvement initiatives, optimizing engineering efficiency, product performance, and cost-effectiveness.
7. Oversee new product development and introduction (NPD/NPI), utilizing Stage-Gate methodology to ensure disciplined execution.
8. Assign and manage engineering project workflows, ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and meeting customer expectations.
9. Define and track engineering KPIs, including time-to-market, cost efficiency, and RF performance metrics.
10. Collaborate with sales, marketing, and manufacturing teams to align product development with customer requirements and market trends.
11. Serve as a subject matter expert in RF/Microwave engineering, providing guidance on RF design, RF simulation tools, and mechanical implementation.
12. Support failure analysis, design verification, and manufacturing work instructions, ensuring a seamless transition from prototype to production.
13. Participate in engineering builds and full-rate production when necessary to validate designs and quality standards.
14. Provide cost estimates for new products and redesigns, factoring in engineering resources, labor, and materials.
15. Work closely with operations, quality, and supply chain teams to optimize manufacturing processes and supplier partnerships.
16. Develop risk management frameworks to proactively identify and mitigate risks in RF design, fabrication, and testing.
17. Actively contribute to customer and supplier engagements, supporting technical sales discussions and problem resolution.
18. Recruit, train, and mentor engineering team members, building a high-performing culture that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
19. Lead succession planning and employee development initiatives to strengthen technical capabilities within the team.
20. Performs other duties as assigned.

Competencies:

• Technical leadership in RF/MW design, simulation, and mechanical packaging.
• Hands-on expertise in RF simulation tools.
• Stage-Gate program management experience.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Effective time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to drive successful cross-functional collaboration.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strategic thinking with a focus on business impact.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Direct supervision and leadership of exempt and non-exempt employees.
• Responsible for hiring, training, performance management, and team development.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
• 10-15 years of RF/MW engineering experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of RF design principles, mechanical design, and materials science.
• Experience with RF simulation tools.
• Familiarity with thin film sputtering, photolithography, and etching.
• Experience in project management methodologies, including Stage-Gate.

Travel:

• Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 20-30% of the time, depending on business needs.

Equipment/Software:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Applications; primarily MS Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Six Sigma Certification (preferred).
• CST for electromagnetic modeling or other RF simulation tools.
• Candidate should have a strong mechanical aptitude.

Work Authorization/Security Clearance:

• Some positions may require US Citizenship.
• Employment is contingent upon background check, drug test, signing confidentiality and other agreements, and trade compliance screening.

EEO Statement:

XMA Corporation is committed to equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate based on protected classes under federal, state, or local law.

Other Duties:

This job description is not exhaustive and duties may change at any time with or without notice.