Subsea Tooling Manager

Pin Point Recruitment; Newcastle upon Tyne; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a Subsea Tooling Manager. This role is responsible for managing a global subsea tooling portfolio, ensuring solutions are engineered and delivered correctly. Key responsibilities include leading the design and integration of subsea tooling, managing vendor relationships, and performing strategic planning for growth. Candidates should have a degree in a related field and extensive experience in subsea engineering. Travel within the UK and overseas is required.

Qualifications

• 7+ years' experience in subsea tooling, ROV operations, or subsea engineering.
• Proven experience in design-and-build environments and technical team management.
• Strong knowledge of offshore energy industry standards (API, ISO, IMCA).

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, selection, and integration of subsea tooling.
• Provide technical leadership to tooling engineers, ensuring compliance.
• Champions a strong HSE culture and ensures compliance with quality systems.

Skills

Strong technical expertise in subsea tooling and ROV-related systems

Proven commercial and financial management capability

Leadership, strategic planning, and execution skills

Strong organisational, communication, and problem-solving abilities

Commitment to safety, quality and continuous improvement

Education

Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Marine Engineering, Robotics, or related discipline

Chartered Engineer status desirable

Job description

Subsea Tooling Manager

Location: Aberdeen, Newcastle or North Yorkshire

Role Purpose

The Subsea Tooling Manager is responsible for the technical, commercial, and strategic management of a global subsea tooling portfolio. The role ensures tooling solutions are engineered, delivered, and cost‑managed to meet project requirements safely, efficiently, and reliably, while driving performance, profitability, and market growth.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Lead the design, development, selection, and integration of subsea tooling, including pipeline PIG launch and recovery systems and subsea connectors.
• Provide technical leadership to tooling engineers, ensuring compliance with industry standards and best practices.
• Ensure tooling designs are maintained, certified, and compliant with regulatory and quality requirements.
• Support projects through technical reviews, feasibility assessments, and operational troubleshooting.
• Drive continuous improvement in tooling performance, reliability, and innovation.

Commercial & Strategic Management

• Own the commercial strategy for subsea tooling, including budgeting, pricing, and cost control.
• Support sales enquiries and prepare technical and commercial proposals in response to RFQs.
• Manage vendor relationships, procurement strategies, and contract negotiations.
• Optimise tooling inventory and lifecycle management to reduce cost and lead times.
• Identify market trends, emerging technologies, and growth opportunities.
• Develop and deliver short‑term revenue improvement plans and a 3‑5 year strategic roadmap, including funded new product development.
• Support marketing activities, customer engagement, and industry exhibitions.

Project, Operational, HSE & Quality

• Coordinate with internal teams to ensure tooling is delivered to customer expectations.
• Ensure timely resolution of equipment and operational issues.
• Champion a strong HSE culture and ensure compliance with safety, legislative, and quality systems.
• Participate in audits, incident investigations, and continuous improvement activities.

Key Competencies

• Strong technical expertise in subsea tooling and ROV‑related systems.
• Proven commercial and financial management capability.
• Leadership, strategic planning, and execution skills.
• Strong organisational, communication, and problem‑solving abilities.
• Commitment to safety, quality and continuous improvement.

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Marine Engineering, Robotics, or related discipline.
• Chartered Engineer status desirable.
• 7+ years' experience in subsea tooling, ROV operations, or subsea engineering.
• Proven experience in design‑and‑build environments and technical team management.
• Strong knowledge of offshore energy industry standards (API, ISO, IMCA).

Work Environment

• Office‑based with regular travel to operational teams, customers, and exhibitions in the UK and overseas.