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Head of Product Development (Engineering)

Job Posted: 14 days ago

Salary: £ 50,000 - 80,000 / Annum
Job Type: Permanent
Location: Tonbridge, Kent

Expire in: 13 days

Job Description

Head of Product Development (Engineering)

West Kent | Competitive Salary + Bonus + Benefits

Drive Innovation. Own Product Design. See Your Work in the Real World.

We’re working with a growing, engineering-led manufacturer delivering high-performance physical products into demanding, real-world environments. This is not theoretical design — these are products that must perform, comply, and last.

They are now looking for a hands-on Product Development leader to take ownership of R&D, design engineering, and continuous product improvement.

The Role

This is a design and development-led engineering role at its core.

You’ll be responsible for:

Leading new product development (NPD) from concept through to manufacture
	
Owning design decisions, materials selection, and product performance
	
Driving product improvement and value engineering across existing ranges
	
Translating real customer and site requirements into practical, manufacturable designs
	
Embedding structured R&D and innovation processes into the business
	
Working closely with production to ensure design for manufacture (DFM) and assembly (DFA)

This is a role for someone who still enjoys being close to the detail — CAD, problem-solving, testing, refining — not just managing from a distance.

What They’re Looking For

You’ll likely come from a product-focused engineering background, where you’ve designed and developed physical, manufactured products.

Typical backgrounds could include:

Building products / construction systems
	
Fabricated metal or structural products
	
Automotive or mechanical equipment
	
Rail, infrastructure, utilities or similar regulated environments

You’ll bring:

Proven experience delivering NPD projects end-to-end (concept → production)
	
Strong 3D CAD capability (SolidWorks, Inventor or similar)
	
A deep understanding of materials, manufacturing processes and product performance
	
Experience with DFM / DFA and engineering optimisation
	
Exposure to testing, validation, FEA or simulation tools
	
A mindset focused on improving, evolving and challenging designs

Leadership experience is important — but this is not a “sit back” role. You’ll still be hands-on in design and development work.

The Environment

Growing SME with strong technical ambition
	
Loyal, long-standing team and collaborative culture
	
Opportunity to shape how products are designed and developed
	
Fast-moving, where ideas can actually be implemented

The business is particularly suited to someone who:

Enjoys building and improving products, not maintaining legacy designs
	
Is naturally curious, forward-thinking and commercially aware
	
Wants to make a visible impact on a product range and engineering function

Why Join?

Genuine ownership of product development and R&D direction
	
A role where your designs will be built, used and seen
	
Strong influence across engineering, operations and commercial teams
	
Clear opportunity to modernise and elevate the engineering function

This is an urgent hire and interviews will move quickly for the right profile.

For a confidential discussion, contact Emily or Sammy at PWR.

METPERM

Before You Apply

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Bank details.
National Insurance number.
Date of birth.

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Looking for your next career move? Join a top company hiring Head of Product Development (Engineering) job near me in Tonbridge, Kent! This is your chance to work on exciting projects, grow professionally, and enjoy a rewarding career with competitive pay and excellent benefits. Whether you're an experienced professional or looking to take the next step, this role offers the perfect opportunity to enhance your skills and make an impact. Don’t miss out—apply today via Vita CV and take your career to the next level!