Production Engineering Manager (Design & Manufacturing)

Fresh Start Recruitment (UK) Ltd; Mansfield; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Job summary

Fresh Start Recruitment (UK) Ltd is seeking an experienced Production Engineering Manager (Design & Manufacturing) in Mansfield to lead engineering and production functions, bridging design and manufacturing to deliver innovative products efficiently and to high quality standards.

You will oversee the design, production processes, and continuous improvement initiatives, leading engineers and production specialists and delivering projects from concept to launch.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in mechanical/manufacturing engineering.
• Proven experience in production/manufacturing engineering or engineering management.
• Strong background in product design and manufacturing environments.
• Experience using CAD software and engineering design principles.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement.
• Strong project management and leadership skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and manage the Production Engineering team with technical guidance.
• Oversee product design and development to ensure manufacturability and cost-effectiveness.
• Drive DFx (DFM/ DFA) throughout the product lifecycle.
• Develop and implement manufacturing processes to improve productivity and quality.
• Manage engineering projects from concept to production launch.
• Support NPI activities and product improvements.
• Monitor KPIs on quality, cost, delivery and safety.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement and lean initiatives.
• Collaborate with Production, Quality, Procurement and Sales.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, quality and environmental standards.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Lean manufacturing

Continuous improvement

Communication

Stakeholder management

Change management

Education

Degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering or Product Design

Tools

CAD software

Job description

Production Engineering Manager (Design & Manufacturing)

Ref 11150

Location: Mansfield, Nottinghamshire

Salary: c£45,000

Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and driven Production Engineering Manager (Design & Manufacturing) to lead our clients engineering and production functions. This is an exciting opportunity for a hands‑on engineering professional who can bridge the gap between product design and manufacturing, ensuring innovative products are delivered efficiently, cost‑effective, and to the highest quality standards.

The successful candidate will oversee engineering design, production processes, continuous improvement initiatives, and cross‑functional project delivery while leading a team of engineers and production specialists.

Key Responsibilities for Production Engineering Manager (Design & Manufacturing)

• Leading, mentoring and managing the Production Engineering team, providing technical guidance and leadership.
• Oversee product design and development activities, ensuring designs are manufacturable and cost‑effective.
• Drive Design for Manufacture (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles throughout the product lifecycle.
• Develop and implement manufacturing processes to improve productivity, quality, and efficiency.
• Manage engineering projects from concept through to production launch.
• Support new product introduction (NPI) activities and product improvements.
• Monitor and improve key performance indicators (KPIs) relating to quality, cost, delivery, and safety.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives.
• Collaborate with Production, Quality, Procurement, and Sales teams to achieve business objectives.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, quality, and environmental standards.
• Manage engineering budgets, resources, and capital investment projects.

Skills & Experience Required for Production Engineering Manager (Design & Manufacturing)

• Degree, HND, or equivalent qualification in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Product Design, or a related discipline.
• Proven experience in a Production Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or Engineering Management role.
• Strong background in product design and manufacturing environments.
• Experience using CAD software and engineering design principles.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and root cause analysis techniques.
• Strong project management and leadership skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Ability to drive change and deliver measurable operational improvements.

What our client Offers

• Competitive salary
• Pension scheme
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Opportunity to make a significant impact within a growing business