Head of Mechanical Design

Our client is a rapidly growing business designing some of the most innovative and interesting applications for the marine industry. If you are a meticulous individual with a passion for working on cutting edge projects, this could be ideal for you.

Head of Mechanical Design

Marine applications

Portsmouth

Permanent

Role Overview

The Head of Mechanical Engineering is the function leader for mechanical engineering, responsible for ensuring the quality and integrity of the team’s output and delivering the right results on time.

The Head of Mechanical Engineering leads the integration of mechanical engineering across the business, promoting early and frequent design discussions that surface trade-offs and align thinking across interfaces. By providing context, clarity, and connection to the broader engineering and delivery landscape, this role enables the team to work effectively and efficiently, demonstrating consideration well beyond the mechanical agenda.

Responsibilities will include:

• Define, maintain, and evolve engineering standards and practices that ensure high-quality mechanical design.
• Lead design reviews and assurance activities, focusing on effective stakeholder interactions for early detection of issues and continuous improvement.
• Represent Mechanical Engineering in cross-functional forums and decision-making processes, supporting the business requirements for engineering input at trade shows, exhibitions and visitors.
• Head up the Mechanical function to follow systems from requirements through design, build, commissioning and trials.
• Contribute to planning activities, ensuring that mechanical work is scoped, resourced, and sequenced effectively to support program level planning.
• Build and sustain a high-performing Mechanical Engineering team through thoughtful recruitment, development, and retention.
• Ownership and technical assurance over system

Qualifications and Experience:

• Proven experience leading mechanical engineering teams in a complex, multidisciplinary environment.
• Strong background in mechanical design, with a track record of delivering high-quality, integrated engineering solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to define and uphold engineering standards, practices, and assurance processes.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to frame technical work in context and facilitate cross-functional dialogue.
• Experience with Hydraulic system and high pressure Pneumatics is advantageous but not critical

Benefits

• Private Healthcare with optional family cover
• Life Assurance (4 x salary)
• Critical Illness Cover
• Ongoing professional development and training
• Access to LinkedIn Learning
• Pension contribution
• Flexible Working
• A culture of diversity and innovative thinking

Candidates must be able to obtain BPSS clearance and should have the right to work in the UK.