Chief Design Manager

K&K Selekt Human Resources Consulting; Rzeszów; On-site; PLN 240,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

K&K Selekt Human Resources Consulting in Rzeszów Area seeks a Chief Design Manager for an international machinery firm. You will lead a design engineering team, drive technology strategy, and oversee standardization, innovation programs, and global partnerships.

The role requires a technical degree, 8–10 years in engineering with leadership, strong English, and a B category driving license. Expect cross-functional collaboration in a fast-paced, international setting.

Qualifications

• Higher education in a technical field is required.
• 10+ years in engineering roles with progression to leadership.
• 3–5 years in senior engineering leadership (design authority/engineering manager).
• Professional English for documentation and business communication.
• B driving license (cat. B) required.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate a team of design engineers across business units.
• Analyze needs across units and identify technical solutions and improvements.
• Attend international trade fairs to acquire industry know-how.
• Develop and implement long-term technology strategy.
• Standardize designs and monitor market trends for new tech.
• Lead innovation initiatives and supervise the Development Center.
• Oversee budget, technology priorities, and partner collaboration.
• Prepare technical reports for Management Board and advise on decisions.

Skills

Technical leadership

Mechanical engineering

Automation experience

International project experience

Change management

Cross-functional collaboration

Decision making at executive level

Education

Technical degree

Job description

Location: Rzeszow Area

K&K Selekt Human Resources Consulting for 25 years, has been conducting HR consulting projects for global, renowned industrial and service companies as well as new investments.

Our partners develop their businesses thanks to well-matched management staff, managers, leaders, and experienced engineers.

Development, change, success, and satisfaction are the features that make companies and talents grow with us, in accordance with their needs and goals.

Chief Design Manager

Together with our Partner, an international manufacturing company from the machinery industry, we invite you to discuss the role of Project Development Manager - R&D.

Aim Of The Role

• Coordinating a team of design engineers from all business units. About 50% of working time.
• Analyzing the current needs of all business units and identifying appropriate technical solutions and continuous improvement opportunities. About 25% of working time.
• Attending international trade fairs and regularly engaging in activities to acquire industry know-how for the company. About 25% of working time.

Scope Of Responsibilities

• Management of the Company's Technology Strategy
• Developing and implementing a long-term technology strategy.
• Standardization of designs.
• Analyzing market trends and recommending new technologies.
• Setting technology priorities aligned with business objectives.
• Supervising the company's Development Center in the area of innovation.
• Leading innovation initiatives (Gemba Walks) with the company's customers and suppliers.
• Monitoring market trends.
• Project Execution and Oversight
• Conducting standardization and implementing improvements in existing process and product solutions.
• Driving the digitalization of technological solutions.
• Planning, organizing, and coordinating technical projects.
• Cooperating with contractors, suppliers, and technology partners.
• Selecting and supervising technology partners.
• Cost Optimization and Budget Management
• Managing the technology and development budget.
• Analyzing the efficiency of technical resource utilization.
• Executive Support and Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Preparing technical reports and analyses for the Management Board.
• Providing technical advisory support in decision-making processes.

Requirements

• Higher education degree in a technical field.
• Minimum 8 - 10 years in engineering roles; demonstrated progression to technical leadership / design authority level.
• Minimum 3 - 5 years in a senior engineering leadership role (design authority, chief engineer, engineering manager, or comparable).
• English skills (written and spoken): professional working proficiency for documentation, reports, business communication.
• Driving license cat. B is required.
• Strong technical background in mechanical engineering, machinery, metals, production line structures.
• Experience in automation, intralogistics, material handling systems.
• Deep understanding of the full engineering value chain: concept, detailed engineering, interfaces to production and installation.
• International project experience and cooperation with foreign clients and partners.
• Pragmatic, and results-oriented; balances technical authority with operational execution.
• Collaborative, able to influence cross-functional stakeholders.
• Comfortable with change management and continuous improvement.
• Energetic, forward-thinking, and committed to keeping the company at the cutting edge of technical trends.
• Experience in implementing technical standards and working across various organizational levels.
• Experience in R&D.
• Ability to combine a technical perspective with business objectives and make decisions at the executive level.
• Experience in building team competencies, leading organizational change, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Proactive, results-oriented attitude with a focus on innovative solutions supporting company growth.

Our Partner Offers

• Professional and personal development opportunities.
• Positive working environment based on teamwork and unquestionable integrity and professionalism.
• Work in an international environment.
• Opportunity to develop into the Head of Technical Department in the future.
• Company events.

We kindly inform that we will contact only the selected candidates.