Prototype & Development Lab Manager

Ripple; Yateley; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Ripple is seeking a hands-on Prototype & Development Lab Manager to lead its engineering prototype lab and workshop, turning engineers' designs into working hardware and shaping how a small, expanding team works.

You will build prototype products, plan builds, lead technicians and apprentices, source components, manage suppliers, and ensure change control and handover to manufacturing. This site-based role offers career development within a growing technology company.

Qualifications

• Experience in a prototype, R&D lab, development workshop or similar engineering environment.
• Strong practical skills in electrical wiring, soldering, cable assembly and electro-mechanical integration
• Comfortable reading schematics, wiring diagrams and mechanical drawings
• Experience leading technical staff and managing suppliers or procurement
• An engineering apprenticeship, HNC/HND, degree or equivalent practical experience
• A curious, inventive mindset. You enjoy solving build problems and trying new approaches

Responsibilities

• Building prototype products, cable assemblies, wiring looms and harnesses from drawings and schematics, and getting stuck in yourself
• Planning and coordinating prototype builds, typically small runs of tens of units, against project milestones
• Leading, developing and supporting a small team of technicians and apprentices
• Sourcing and buying prototype components, materials, tooling and specialist services, and managing suppliers and subcontractors
• Managing prototype bills of materials and component availability
• Supporting change control, quality and the handover of new products into manufacturing
• Keeping the lab safe, organised and well equipped, and constantly finding better ways of working

Skills

Electrical wiring

Soldering

Cable assembly

Electro-mechanical integration

Reading schematics

Team leadership

Procurement management

Project coordination

Education

Engineering apprenticeship

HNC/HND

Degree or equivalent practical experience

Tools

IPC certification

CAD

3D printing

Rapid prototyping

Measurement tools

Job description

A growing engineering technology business is looking for a hands-on Prototype & Development Lab Manager to lead its engineering prototype lab and workshop.

This is a rare chance to be at the heart of new product development, turning engineers' designs into working hardware, and to shape how a small, expanding team works.

What you'll be doing as Prototype & Development Lab Manager

• Building prototype products, cable assemblies, wiring looms and harnesses from drawings and schematics, and getting stuck in yourself
• Planning and coordinating prototype builds, typically small runs of tens of units, against project milestones
• Leading, developing and supporting a small team of technicians and apprentices
• Sourcing and buying prototype components, materials, tooling and specialist services, and managing suppliers and subcontractors
• Managing prototype bills of materials and component availability
• Supporting change control, quality and the handover of new products into manufacturing
• Keeping the lab safe, organised and well equipped, and constantly finding better ways of working

What we're looking for - Prototype & Development Lab Manager

• Experience in a prototype, R&D lab, development workshop or similar engineering environment
• Strong practical skills in electrical wiring, soldering, cable assembly and electro-mechanical integration
• Comfortable reading schematics, wiring diagrams and mechanical drawings
• Experience leading technical staff and managing suppliers or procurement
• An engineering apprenticeship, HNC/HND, degree or equivalent practical experience
• A curious, inventive mindset. You enjoy solving build problems and trying new approaches

Nice to have - Prototype & Development Lab Manager

• Background in marine, defence, robotics, instrumentation or a similar high-tech sector
• Experience of new product introduction and transfer to manufacture
• IPC certification, CAD, 3D printing or rapid prototyping

This is a site-based job with a well-established, growing technology company offering genuine career development.

My client is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.