Mechanical Design Manager: Lead Projects & Team

ReeVR; West Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company pension

Private healthcare

Job summary

ReeVR is seeking an experienced Mechanical Design Manager to lead the mechanical design department. The role combines management of multiple machinery projects with hands-on design when required, ensuring designs progress from conception to manufacture.

You will manage a team of engineers, coordinate across disciplines, and maintain schedules, budgets and design costs. A strong background in machinery design and 3D CAD is required, with Inventor/AutoCAD preferred and SolidWorks considered.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing a mechanical design department as a Design Manager, Engineering Manager, or equivalent.
• Strong mechanical design background with progression through design and senior engineering roles.
• Experience in machinery, special-purpose equipment, or comparable project-led SME/OEM environment.
• Ability to manage several projects with short turnaround times and changing priorities.
• Strong scheduling, workload planning and performance management skills.
• Commercial awareness of engineering time, budgets and delivery costs.
• Willingness to stay technically involved and collaborate with manufacturing.
• Experience using 3D CAD: Inventor and AutoCAD; SolidWorks also considered.

Responsibilities

• Lead an experienced team of mechanical design engineers, providing clear priorities, direction and accountability.
• Plan and allocate design workloads across multiple concurrent machinery projects.
• Monitor progress against agreed deadlines, budgets and design costs.
• Challenge estimates, identify delays early and address issues before they affect delivery.
• Coordinate closely with manufacturing and the workshop to ensure designs progress effectively into production.
• Conduct appraisals, set KPIs and performance objectives, and manage day-to-day team requirements.
• Work alongside senior leadership to coordinate mechanical design with electrical, software, testing and service activities.
• Undertake occasional design work where this supports delivery and keeps the wider team focused.

Skills

People management

Mechanical design

Project management

Scheduling

Budgeting & costs

3D CAD (Inventor/AutoCAD/SolidWorks)

Tools

Inventor

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

Job description

ReeVR is seeking an experienced Mechanical Design Manager to lead the mechanical design department. The role combines management of multiple machinery projects with hands-on design when required, ensuring designs progress from conception to manufacture.

You will manage a team of engineers, coordinate across disciplines, and maintain schedules, budgets and design costs. A strong background in machinery design and 3D CAD is required, with Inventor/AutoCAD preferred and SolidWorks considered.