Head of Engineering

Cathedral Appointments Ltd; Taunton; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established engineering firm in Taunton is seeking a Head of Engineering to lead a multi-skilled department and drive innovation and excellence in machinery design. The role offers a competitive salary of £70k-£80k based on experience and provides a clear path for progression. Applicants must have a degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering and proven leadership experience in a design and manufacturing setting. This is an exciting opportunity to impact the engineering function and product development.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Clear progression potential

Collaborative working environment

Exposure to international projects

Supportive culture focused on innovation

Qualifications

• Proven senior engineering leadership experience within a design and manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of international standards such as CE, UL, and UKCA.
• Experience delivering complex engineering projects for international customers.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a multi-disciplinary engineering team.
• Drive machinery design and development ensuring safety compliance.
• Implement new technologies to improve performance and cost efficiency.
• Oversee customer-facing engineering activities.

Skills

Leadership

Machinery design

Safety compliance

Innovation

Education

Degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Job description

£70k-£80k DOE | Full-time, On-site | Taunton

An established and forward-thinking engineering design and manufacturing organisation is entering an exciting phase of growth and succession planning. Operating internationally, the business designs and delivers complex, high-value machinery for specialist industrial applications. With a strong reputation for quality, innovation, and safety, the company offers a collaborative environment where technical excellence and continuous improvement are genuinely valued.

The Role

This is a senior leadership opportunity for an experienced engineering professional ready to shape the future direction of a growing engineering function. Reporting into the senior leadership team, the Head of Engineering will lead a multi-skilled department, driving innovation, safety, and technical excellence across all engineering activity. The role offers a clear progression path and the chance to make a lasting impact on product development, engineering strategy, and team culture.

Key Responsibilities of the Head of Engineering

• Lead and develop a multi-disciplinary engineering team, fostering a culture of safety, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Drive machinery design and development, ensuring compliance with all relevant safety standards and legislation.
• Identify and implement new technologies to improve performance, functionality, and cost efficiency.
• Oversee engineering involvement in customer-facing activities, including service, spares, installation, and commissioning.

Requirements of the Head of Engineering

• Degree qualified in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
• Proven senior engineering leadership experience within a design and manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of machinery design, compliance, and international standards such as CE, UL, and UKCA.
• Experience delivering complex engineering or capital projects, ideally for international customers.

Benefits

• Competitive salary between £70,000 and £80,000.
• Senior leadership role with clear progression potential.
• Opportunity to influence long-term engineering strategy and product development.
• Collaborative onsite working environment in Taunton.
• Exposure to international projects and customers.
• Supportive culture focused on innovation, safety, and professional growth.

If you are an experienced engineering leader looking for a strategic role where you can genuinely shape the future of an engineering function, we would love to hear from you.

Please note: At this time, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship. Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK without requiring future sponsorship.

Recruitment Consultant: Dan Martin

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