Research And Development Manager

Morgan Jones Recruitment; Staplehurst; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced pension contributions

Quarterly bonus

Referral scheme

Death-in-service

Job summary

Morgan Jones Recruitment is seeking an experienced Research and Development Manager in Staplehurst, Kent. You will lead Mechanical, Electronic, Software and Physics teams, set technical direction, and ensure safe, efficient delivery aligned with business goals and manufacturing capability.

This leadership role requires a degree in a relevant engineering or physics field, strong multidisciplinary experience, and proven capability to drive product development from concept to production, with a

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical/Electronic Engineering, Physics or similar.
• Experience leading engineering teams or complex projects.
• Strong understanding of product development lifecycles.
• Excellent stakeholder, planning and problem-solving skills.
• ISO9001 design/development experience is desirable.
• Background in scientific instrumentation, EM systems or precision engineering.
• Systems engineering and configuration/change control knowledge.
• Experience transitioning R&D into production.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Plan and allocate resources across projects and priorities.
• Oversee delivery from concept through manufacture and installation.
• Chair design reviews and guide key technical decisions.
• Ensure designs are manufacturable, compliant and cost-effective.
• Identify and mitigate technical risk.
• Drive continuous improvement in processes, tools and documentation.
• Contribute to strategy, roadmaps, bids and budgeting.
• Promote safety, quality and regulatory compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Project planning

Problem solving

Team coaching

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Education

Degree in Mechanical/Electronic Engineering, Physics or similar

Tools

Configuration management

Lifecycle management tools

Job description

Location & Details

Staplehurst, Kent (on site) with occasional international travel. Hours: 40hrs, Monday – Friday (flexibility required). Salary: £60-80k DOE.

About the role

Our client is seeking an experienced Research And Development Manager to lead Mechanical, Electronics, Software and Physics teams within a growing R&D function. You will set technical direction, ensure safe and efficient delivery, and align engineering output with business goals, customer needs and manufacturing capability.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Plan and allocate resources across projects and priorities
• Oversee delivery from concept through manufacture and installation
• Chair design reviews and guide key technical decisions
• Ensure designs are manufacturable, compliant and cost-effective
• Identify and mitigate technical risk
• Drive continuous improvement in processes, tools and documentation
• Contribute to strategy, roadmaps, bids and budgeting
• Promote safety, quality and regulatory compliance

About you (requirements)

• Degree in Mechanical/Electronic Engineering, Physics or similar
• Significant experience in a multidisciplinary environment
• Proven leadership of engineering teams or complex projects
• Strong understanding of product development lifecycles
• Excellent stakeholder, planning and problem‑solving skills
• Desirable ISO9001 design/development experience
• Background in scientific instrumentation, EM systems or precision engineering
• Systems engineering and configuration/change control knowledge
• Experience transitioning R&D into production

Why join our client

• Enhanced pension contributions and quarterly bonus
• Referral scheme and 2x death-in-service
• Competitive holiday allowance
• Ongoing training and development
• A growing, innovative engineering environment with real impact

How to apply

Apply now with your CV to be considered for this leadership opportunity.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Morgan Jones is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal‑opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.