R&D Technical Lead / Product Manager

Clark Door Limited; Carlisle; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a talented R&D Technical Lead/Product Manager to spearhead innovative product development. In this pivotal role, you will lead the full lifecycle of product development, from concept generation to market launch, ensuring compliance with global standards. This exciting opportunity allows you to manage multidisciplinary teams and drive cutting-edge solutions that transform industries. With a commitment to engineering excellence and ongoing investment in R&D, you'll be at the forefront of pioneering advancements in the field. If you're passionate about innovation and delivering industry-leading solutions, this role is perfect for you.

Benefits

Pension scheme with employer contributions

Employee training and development opportunities

32 days annual leave including bank holidays

Life assurance of 4 x basic salary

Access to Vivup for discounts and wellbeing support

Qualifications

• BEng/MEng in Mechanical Engineering or related field is essential.
• Expertise in product development processes and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead product development from concept to market readiness.
• Drive innovation and oversee compliance testing and certification.
• Manage multidisciplinary teams for successful project completion.

Skills

Analytical Skills

Project Management

Communication Skills

CAD Software (AutoCAD, SolidWorks)

Problem-Solving

Quality Assurance Processes

Education

BEng/MEng in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Project Management Tools

CAD Software (AutoCAD, SolidWorks)

Job description

At Clark Door, our mission is to drive engineering excellence and innovation, pushing the boundaries of what advanced door systems can achieve. In 2018, our commitment to innovation saw the evolution of our R&D function into a full-time department, enabling us to deliver award-winning advancements that set new benchmarks for fire-rated, acoustic, security, and industrial doors.

Now, we’re searching for a talented R&D Technical Lead/Product Manager to join our team and help take our innovation to the next level. In this role, you’ll tackle complex engineering challenges, ensure compliance with global standards, and lead the development of world-class solutions that transform industries and enhance prestigious projects worldwide.

With continued investment in R&D and a dedicated testing facility, this is an exciting opportunity to lead pioneering product development in a business that thrives on technical excellence.

If you're an experienced engineer with a passion for innovation and delivering industry-leading solutions, we want to hear from you.

JOB PURPOSE

The R&D Technical Lead / Product Manager will lead the company’s Research and Development function, driving innovation and overseeing the full lifecycle of product development. This includes concept generation, prototyping, compliance testing, certification, and successful market launch. The role will play a pivotal part in developing and executing forward-looking R&D strategies to maintain the company’s competitive edge while ensuring rigorous quality and compliance standards. Additionally, the role involves managing multidisciplinary teams to foster a culture of innovation and cross-functional collaboration, ensuring alignment between R&D outputs and business objectives.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Research and Development

• Lead and manage the development of new products from initial concept to market readiness.
• Drive innovation by exploring emerging technologies, materials, and methods to create cutting-edge products.
• Assist the sales and marketing team with technical benchmarking processes.
• Develop and implement a forward-thinking R&D strategy to support the company’s long-term growth and competitiveness.
• Oversee prototype development, testing, and validation to ensure successful product launches.

Testing and Compliance

• Design and execute the company’s local and international testing strategy with independent test centres based in the UK and internationally, including in-house prototyping and third-party certification.
• Manage all internal and external fire, acoustic, security, and compliance testing, while maintaining a robust database of historic test data.
• Maintain and control master technical files, job-specific technical files, UKCA/CE documentation, compliance auditing records, and a comprehensive library of controlled information.
• Ensure all products comply with relevant legislation and regulatory standards for areas including North America, Middle East, Europe and UK (CE and UKCA certification requirements).

Quality Assurance

• Collect feedback on existing product performance strengths and opportunities for improvements to feed into the Quality improvement process for the business. The job holder will enable step changes as part of the company’s R&D plans.
• Support the team’s quality improvement drive, conducting root cause analysis and implement corrective actions for product defects or non-conformities.
• Collaborate with project engineering and manufacturing teams to take tested prototypes into productionised products – with consistent product quality, adherence to design specifications and cost objectives. Use existing designs where appropriate by developing good relationships throughout the engineering team.

Collaboration and Support

• Foster a culture of innovation and teamwork, mentoring and coordinating cross-functional teams including engineers, technicians, and compliance experts.
• Support Sales & Marketing by producing content for controlled technical and sales brochures, as well as installation instructions and Operation & Maintenance (O&M) manuals.
• Support the Sales team with high level technical support on technically challenging inquiries such as site surveys, estimating R&D costs, providing design calculations and cost information.
• Assist Installations with troubleshooting and technical advice as required.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Education and Qualifications

Essential:

• BEng/MEng in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• Understanding of CE Marking, UKCA certification, and compliance testing for international products.
• Expertise in product development processes and regulatory requirements.
• Proficiency in project management tools and methodologies.
• Knowledge of quality assurance processes and regulatory compliance frameworks.

Desirable:

• Membership in a relevant professional body.
• Understanding of Health & Safety regulations in an R&D setting.
• Experience in CFD modelling for fire or thermal analysis and/or experience in product testing to validate design models.

Experience, Knowledge, and Understanding

Essential:

• Demonstrated experience managing engineering projects from concept to completion.
• Experience in an R&D environment, ideally within the construction, fire safety, or security industries.
• Ability to lead and coordinate multidisciplinary teams to identify and monitor critical path on complex projects to drive successful completion.

Desirable:

• Track record of delivering projects on time and within budget.
• Experience implementing quality assurance and process improvement methodologies (e.g., Six Sigma).
• Hands-on experience in fire, acoustic, or security product testing.

Skills

• Strong analytical and methodical approach to problem-solving
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and critical paths
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for engaging technical and external stakeholders
• Comprehensive understanding of local and international product compliance and certification
• Hands-on experience with testing, data analysis, and reporting
• Proficiency in CAD software (AutoCAD, SolidWorks) for design review
• Experience in quality assurance processes, including root cause analysis and corrective actions

Personal Qualities and Commitment

• Highly motivated, confident, and results-driven
• Detail-oriented and well-organized
• Resilient and decisive under pressure
• Personable, with strong stakeholder engagement skills
• Commitment to continuous improvement and product quality
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to mentor and develop team members
• Adaptable and open to new challenges.

Other Factors

• Right to work in the UK.
• Satisfactory DBS and reference checks.
• This role is based in a manufacturing facility and may require occasional travel.
• Willingness to work flexible hours to meet business demands.
• Full UK driving licence.

Salary: £60 000 - £65 000

Benefits:

• Pension scheme with employer contributions.
• Employee training, development and career growth opportunities.
• 32 days annual leave per year including bank holidays. Plus you get your birthday off!
• Life assurance of 4 x basic salary.
• Access to Vivup, providing discounts, wellbeing support, and salary sacrifice schemes