Drawing Office Manager

Solid Talent; West Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Bonus

Healthcare

28 days holiday inc. bank

Social events

Job summary

Solid Talent is seeking an experienced Drawing Office Manager for our West Yorkshire facility, joining a market-leading British engineering manufacturer.

You will lead a team of 5 design engineers and CAD technicians, ensuring technical accuracy, scheduling, and manufacturing releases while coordinating with senior leadership, production, and external partners.

Qualifications

• Proven track record leading a drawing office or senior design engineer stepping into management.
• Proficiency in SolidWorks and SolidWorks PDM; ability to manage legacy 2D AutoCAD data is desirable.
• Background in stainless steel fabrication or bespoke machinery for the food industry is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of 5 design engineers and CAD technicians, allocating daily work and tracking progress.
• Serve as the technical bridge between senior leadership, project managers, fabrication, and suppliers.
• Ensure accuracy, schedules, manufacturing releases, and CAD data control across projects.
• Manage design phase scheduling from handover to production release, meeting deadlines.
• Direct CAD workflows using SolidWorks/SolidWorks PDM with strict revision control and BOM accuracy.
• Oversee nesting with TruTops and direct-to-machine output for TRUMPF laser cutters and press brakes.
• Drive continuous improvement by modernising templates, libraries, and ERP/BOM releases.

Skills

SolidWorks

SolidWorks PDM

AutoCAD

TruTops

TRUMPF

Laser Cutting

Press Brakes

Engineering Management

Team Leadership

Drawing Office Operations

Design Management

Work Allocation

Resource Planning

Bespoke Machinery

Special-Purpose Machinery

Education

ONC/HNC/HND Apprenticeship

BEng/MEng Mechanical Engineering

Tools

TruTops

TRUMPF

SolidWorks PDM

Job description

West Yorkshire, United Kingdom

• Work Experience SolidWorks, SolidWorks PDM, AutoCAD, TruTops, TRUMPF, Laser Cutting, Press Brakes, Engineering Management, Team Leadership, Drawing Office Operations, Design Management, Work Allocation, Resource Planning, Bespoke Machinery, Special-Purpose Machinery
• City West Yorkshire
• Province West Yorkshire
• Country United Kingdom
• Postal Code WF15

Job Description

Drawing Office Manager Permanent Full-Time

Location – Office based in West Yorkshire

Join a market-leading British engineering manufacturer with over half a century of heritage in designing and producing bespoke automated machinery, conveying systems, and integrated processing lines for the global food sector. They combine end-to-end design with in-house fabrication, sheet metal processing, and final assembly.

We are looking for an experienced Drawing Office Manager (or an ambitious Senior/Lead Mechanical Design Engineer stepping into management) to take complete ownership of drawing office operations. Serving as the critical operational anchor between Senior Leadership, Project Managers, Production, and External Fabrication Partners, you will coordinate a team of 5 Mechanical Design Engineers and CAD Technicians. You will take ultimate accountability for technical accuracy, design schedules, manufacturing releases, and CAD data control.

Responsibilities, but are not limited to

• Lead, manage, and mentor a team of 5 design engineers and CAD Technicians, coordinating daily work allocations and tracking project progress from initial handover through to final delivery
  
• Act as the primary technical bridge between Senior Directors, Project Managers, Shop-Floor Fabrication, Assembly, and Subcontract Suppliers
  
• Provide critical engineering input and technical guidance across bespoke mechanical designs, ensuring structural integrity, manufacturability, and technical precision
  
• Manage design phase scheduling from technical handover through to production release, maintaining strict milestone delivery to align with manufacturing deadlines
  
• Direct departmental CAD workflows using SolidWorks and SolidWorks PDM, maintaining strict revision control, BOM accuracy, and management of legacy AutoCAD data
  
• Oversee flat-packing and sheet metal nesting protocols using TruTops software to drive efficient, direct-to-machine output for TRUMPF laser cutters and press brakes
  
• Drive continuous improvement across drawing office workflows, modernising design templates, standardising component libraries, and streamlining ERP/BOM releases
  

Experiences required

• Proven track record managing a drawing office or a Senior / Lead Mechanical Design Engineer ready to step into departmental management
  
• Proficient in SolidWorks and SolidWorks PDM (experience managing legacy 2D AutoCAD data is highly desirable)
  
• In-depth experience with stainless steel fabrication, sheet metal design, conveyors, product handling systems, or bespoke special-purpose machinery within the food industry would be highly advantageous
  
• Familiarity with sheet metal CAM/nesting software (e.g. TruTops) and direct-to-machine workflows
  
• Time-served engineering apprenticeship with ONC/HNC/HND, or a Degree (BEng/MEng) in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent experience)
  
• Full UK Driving Licence
  

Package: 39 Hours P/W | Monday to Friday | 8:30am to 5pm | 28 Days Holiday Inc. Bank | Pension | Bonus | Healthcare | Social Events