Head Of Design

Recreo Global; Wakefield; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Recreo Global in the UK is recruiting a Head of Design to provide experienced technical leadership within an established mechanical design function. The role focuses on setting standards, guiding design direction and developing the design team.

You'll work closely with fabrication, quality and project teams to ensure designs are practical, compliant and buildable, balancing technical rigour with delivery and commercial needs. Chartered Engineer status would be advantageous but not essential.

Qualifications

• Senior mechanical design leader with experience in complex fabricated products.
• Experience developing and mentoring engineers.
• Strong oversight of design outputs and technical documentation.
• Ability to balance rigour with delivery and commercial needs.

Responsibilities

• Develop and mentor the design team through guidance and reviews.
• Provide technical oversight for high-quality outputs.
• Set and uphold engineering standards, processes and best practice.
• Review complex designs, calculations and docs.
• Collaborate with fabrication, quality, project and commercial teams.
• Drive continuous improvement in tools, workflows and capability.
• Act as senior technical authority for specialist projects.

Skills

Mechanical design

Leadership

Mentoring engineers

Engineering standards

Education

Chartered Engineer

Job description

The Opportunity

My client is a well-established UK engineering and fabrication business delivering bespoke, high-integrity engineered solutions to clients across critical industrial sectors. The work is project-driven, technically demanding and quality-focused, with close collaboration between design, fabrication and project delivery teams.

They are now looking to appoint a Head of Design to provide experienced technical leadership within an established mechanical design function.

The Role

This is a senior engineering leadership position with responsibility for setting technical standards, guiding design direction and developing an existing team of design engineers. The role supports the continued growth of a specialist engineered product range and involves close working with manufacturing, quality and project teams.

The position combines strong engineering judgement with people leadership rather than day-to-day detailing.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and support an existing design team through guidance, review and shared problem-solving
• Provide technical oversight and feedback to ensure consistent, high-quality design outputs
• Set and uphold engineering and design standards, processes and best practice
• Review and approve complex designs, calculations and technical documentation
• Work closely with fabrication, quality, project and commercial teams to ensure designs are practical, compliant and buildable
• Drive continuous improvement within the design function, including tools, workflows and capability development
• Act as the senior technical authority for specialist engineered projects

Candidate Profile

• Strong background in mechanical design engineering within complex, fabricated or engineered products
• Experience operating as a senior or lead engineer, with responsibility for developing and supporting other engineers
• Comfortable providing technical leadership and oversight rather than hands-on CAD work
• Good understanding of fabrication methods, materials, tolerances and manufacturing processes
• Able to balance technical rigour with commercial and delivery requirements
• Chartered Engineer status would be advantageous, but not essential