R&D Manager

ACMA, a Coesia company; Emilia-Romagna; On-site; EUR 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Insurance

Job summary

ACMA, a Coesia company based in Bologna, Italy, seeks an experienced R&D Manager to lead Mechanical Designers and Engineers in its Innovation R&D organization, driving the development of new packaging solutions and next‑generation machinery. You will translate market and customer needs into innovative technical solutions, supervising the full product development lifecycle from concept to industrialization.

This role balances people leadership with strong technical ownership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• ≥10 years of mechanical design, product development in complex industrial machinery.
• About 5 years leading engineers or coordinating technical teams.
• Fluent English (written and spoken).
• Experience in packaging machinery is a plus; other complex machinery sectors are also relevant.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of Mechanical Engineers and Designers, fostering growth and engagement.
• Drive innovation projects and new product development aligned with business strategy.
• Act as a technical reference for design reviews, solution definition, and engineering decisions.
• Supervise development from concept generation through validation and industrialization.
• Promote technical excellence, standardization, and design best practices across projects.
• Collaborate with Product Management, Automation, Manufacturing, Service, and other Coesia companies.
• Ensure projects are delivered on quality, timing, and performance targets.
• Support risk assessment and technical problem-solving throughout development.
• Manage resources, priorities, and workloads within the team.

Skills

Leadership

Team leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

ACMA is a leading organization headquartered in Bologna, Italy.

As a key player in the consumer goods industry for over 100 years, we specialize in manufacturing packaging machines for a range of sectors, including Food, Personal Care, Home Care, Chemicals.

Our business portfolio encompasses a wide range of innovative tailor‑made packaging machinery solutions, by working hand‑in‑hand with customers and partners.

We strive to continuously expand our offerings and enhance our capabilities to meet the evolving needs of our customers.

For more detailed information about ACMA and its comprehensive business landscape, please visit www.acma.it/en.

ACMA is part of Coesia, a group of innovation‑based industrial and packaging solutions companies operating globally, headquartered in Bologna, Italy. Coesia operates in 34 countries with 21 different companies and employs over 8,000 people as of 2026.

About the Role

As R&D Manager, you will lead a team of experienced Mechanical Designers and Engineers within ACMA's Innovation R&D organization, driving the development of new packaging solutions and next‑generation machinery.

You will play a key role in translating market and customer needs into innovative technical solutions, supervising the full product development lifecycle from concept definition to industrialization. This position combines people leadership with strong technical ownership, requiring the ability to guide engineering decisions, challenge design choices, and foster collaboration across multidisciplinary teams.

The ideal candidate is a passionate engineering leader with a solid background in complex machinery design, capable of balancing innovation, technical excellence, and team development.

Your main responsibilities will be:

• Lead and develop a team of Mechanical Engineers and Designers, fostering technical growth, collaboration, and engagement.
• Drive innovation projects and new product development initiatives, ensuring alignment with business strategy and market needs.
• Act as a technical reference point for the team, contributing to design reviews, solution definition, and key engineering decisions.
• Supervise the development of mechanical solutions from concept generation through validation and industrialization.
• Promote technical excellence, standardization, and design best practices across projects.
• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Automation, Manufacturing, Service, and other Coesia companies to develop integrated and innovative solutions.
• Ensure projects are delivered according to quality, timing, and performance targets.
• Support risk assessment activities and technical problem‑solving throughout the product development process.
• Manage resources, priorities, and workloads within the team to ensure effective project execution.
• Contribute to the definition of future product roadmaps and technology strategies.

What You Need to Be Successful

• At least a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or an equivalent technical discipline.
• At least 10 years of experience in mechanical design, product development, and engineering activities within complex industrial machinery environments.
• Around 5 years of experience in leading engineers or coordinating technical teams within an R&D or Engineering function.
• Strong mechanical engineering expertise, with the ability to evaluate design solutions, challenge technical assumptions, and support key engineering decisions.
• Hands‑on technical mindset, capable of acting as a reference point for experienced designers and engineers while maintaining a strategic view of projects and priorities.
• Experience in packaging machinery is a plus; candidates from other complex machinery sectors such as automation, converting, machine tools, textile machinery, or special‑purpose equipment are also highly relevant.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence multidisciplinary teams and foster collaboration across functions.
• Proactive and confident decision‑maker with a strong drive for innovation.
• Fluent English, both written and spoken.

Our Offer

Compensation for this role includes a base salary starting from EUR 55.000, in line with experience. The actual offer may exceed this minimum based on the candidate's qualifications and fit for the role.

• A range of additional benefits (e.g., insurance, etc.) is also available in accordance with Company policy.

The applicable collective agreement is the CCNL Metalmeccanico.

Join the Team!

Coesia is an equal opportunity employer. We believe in fair, merit‑based recruitment and assess all candidates exclusively on the basis of their qualifications, skills, experience and suitability for the role.