Engineering Manager
Colchester, Essex
Permanent | On-site
£65,000 - £75,000 depending on experience

Polkadotfrog are delighted to be working with a leading Essex based specialist business as they look to appoint an Engineering Manager to join their team.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced engineering professional who enjoys combining technical expertise, product development, innovation and people leadership.

As Engineering Manager, you’ll become a key technical leader within the business, overseeing R&D and new product development while leading and developing the Design & Engineering teams.

As Engineering Manager, you will:
• Provide technical leadership across the business, acting as a trusted source of engineering expertise and guidance.
• Lead, mentor and develop a small team of Engineers and Designers, supporting their technical and professional development.
• Take ownership of R&D projects, from early-stage concepts and feasibility work through to formal approval and, where required, into production.
• Develop practical, robust and commercially viable solutions to complex engineering and technical challenges.
• Work closely with Product, Design and Technical teams to resolve unusual or challenging engineering issues.
• Develop a strong understanding of the technical standards, regulations and requirements applicable to the company’s products.
• Communicate complex technical requirements clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical colleagues.
• Support the wider business in responding to complex customer technical queries, providing clear and commercially appropriate solutions.
• Work closely with Purchasing, Finance, Manufacturing and other functions to develop robust business cases for new products and engineering initiatives.
• Work alongside Purchasing to identify and lead cost-reduction and value-engineering initiatives, delivering measurable savings for the business.

About You:
We’re looking for a technically strong and commercially aware engineering professional with a genuine passion for design, product development and manufacturing.

• Strong experience in engineering design within a manufacturing environment.
• Previous experience in an engineering leadership, supervisory or management position, with the ability to mentor and develop others.
• A strong understanding of CAD design processes and technical drawing.
• Experience taking products or engineering projects from concept through to manufacture.
• A practical, solutions-focused approach, with the ability to balance technical requirements with cost, quality, manufacturability and commercial considerations.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the confidence to take ownership of complex engineering challenges.
• A collaborative working ethic. While you’ll be a strong advocate for engineering, you’ll understand the importance of working closely with the wider business to deliver solutions that are technically sound, commercially viable and profitable.

You’ll be joining a specialist organisation where engineering plays a key role in its continued growth and success, with the opportunity to make a tangible impact across product development, innovation, manufacturing and commercial performance.

If you’re an experienced engineer looking for a role where your technical expertise will be valued, your ideas encouraged and your leadership can make a real difference, we’d love to hear from you.

If you’d like to find out more about this fantastic opportunity, please get in touch with the Polkadotfrog team today for a confidential conversation.

At Polkadotfrog Recruitment, we do our very best to ensure both client and candidate satisfaction. If you require any reasonable adjustments, such as access or information in an alternative format, please let us know as soon as you are able so that we can make the appropriate arrangements.

Whilst we would love to get back to every applicant, this isn’t always possible. If you haven’t heard from us within 5 days, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion. INDH