Mechanical Engineering Manager

Mechanical Engineering Manager at Mpac Group Purpose of the Role To lead and manage the Mechanical Engineering department by planning and allocating resources, ensuring the delivery of high‑quality engineering outputs, and driving the performance, efficiency, and continuous improvement of the team. The role ensures that projects are properly supported, milestones are achieved, engineering standards are upheld, and departmental performance metrics, including utilisation, quality, and process adherence, are monitored and improved. Working closely with Project Management and Controls leadership, the Mechanical Engineering Manager ensures strong cross‑functional alignment and contributes to the successful delivery of organisational strategic initiatives. Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities Department Responsibilities Lead the Mechanical Engineering department, providing strategic direction, resource planning, performance oversight, and operational management. Allocate engineering resources across all mechanical workstreams, ensuring appropriate skills, capacity, and support are available to meet project demand. Monitor and report departmental utilisation, balancing workload across teams and identifying capacity constraints or optimisation opportunities. Oversee the quality of mechanical engineering outputs, ensuring adherence to engineering standards, procedures, and regulatory requirements. Review and track departmental non‑conformances and cost‑of‑poor‑quality (COPQ), ensuring timely investigation, corrective actions, and prevention measures. Drive continuous improvement in engineering processes, documentation, design methodologies, and department workflows. Support pre‑sales process by reviewing and optimising lead times for prospective projects. Lead the delivery of strategic initiatives and improvement programmes in collaboration with senior leadership. Develop and mentor Team Leaders and senior engineers, fostering talent development and succession planning. Support the creation and maintenance of a positive, collaborative, and high‑performance culture within the department. Project & Delivery Responsibilities Collaborate with Project Responsible Engineers (PREs) to ensure progress is on track, engineering plans remain viable, and key milestones will be met. Provide oversight and governance to ensure project designs align with customer requirements, internal standards, and regulatory obligations. Monitor engineering progress across all mechanical work packages, identifying risk areas, resource bottlenecks, or schedule threats and intervening where necessary. Work closely with Project Management to ensure accurate planning, forecasting, and integration of mechanical engineering deliverables within the wider project schedule. Coordinate closely with the Controls Engineering and Electrical teams to ensure seamless interdisciplinary collaboration and best project outcomes. Support root‑cause investigation and resolution of technical issues, engineering errors, or design challenges affecting project performance. Provide clear communication to senior leadership and stakeholders on departmental status, risks, performance trends, utilisation, and quality metrics. Outputs and Deliverables Accurate, up‑to‑date departmental utilisation reports and resource forecasts. Clear, concise reporting on non‑conformances, COPQ trends, and the status of corrective and preventive actions. On‑time delivery of mechanical engineering outputs that meet scope, quality, and regulatory requirements. Verified achievement of engineering milestones according to project schedules. Timely and effective close‑out of departmental actions, including corrective actions, process improvements, and strategic initiatives. Well‑supported PREs and Team Leaders, with clear visibility of risks, progress, and engineering performance. Strong cross‑functional collaboration with Project Management, Controls, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality. A high‑performing, well‑organised mechanical engineering department with strong morale and effective talent development. Core Values Integrity Drive Collaboration Expertise Innovation Essential Knowledge and Experience Proven experience leading or managing mechanical engineering teams within an automation, machinery, or complex engineered systems environment. Strong background in mechanical design, engineering governance, and adherence to industry standards and regulatory requirements. Demonstrable experience in resource planning, capacity management, and departmental performance tracking. Experience overseeing the delivery of multiple engineering projects simultaneously, ensuring quality and schedule adherence. Solid understanding of engineering project lifecycles, milestone planning, and cross‑functional dependencies. Experience managing engineering non‑conformances, root‑cause analysis, corrective actions, and cost‑of‑poor‑quality reduction. Strong leadership capabilities with experience developing engineering teams, mentoring senior engineers, and fostering high performance. Experience participating in or leading continuous improvement initiatives or large‑scale engineering process changes. Desirable Experience in a senior engineering management role within a machine builder or automation OEM environment. Strong commercial awareness, including scope management, change control, and engineering cost drivers. Experience managing strategic initiatives, organisational change, or departmental transformation programmes. Familiarity with advanced engineering methods such as risk‑based design, FMEA, design‑for‑manufacture, or modular design. Experience interacting with customers during technical reviews or project reviews. Exposure to multi‑site or global engineering coordination. Technical Skills and Qualifications Degree, HND/HNC, or equivalent qualification in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related engineering discipline. Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals, mechanical design principles, and industry standards relevant to automated machinery. Proficiency with mechanical engineering tools and documentation (CAD awareness, design specifications, technical files), with the ability to evaluate completeness and quality. Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with the ability to interpret engineering data, quality metrics, and performance reports. Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills, capable of influencing at all levels. Competent in Microsoft Office and engineering reporting tools, including resource planning, risk tracking, and KPI dashboards. Machinery Safety Directive knowledge. Desirable Technical Skills Chartered Engineer or working toward professional registration (e.g., IMechE). Familiarity with PLM, PDM, or ERP systems for engineering workflow, resource planning, and configuration control. Knowledge of relevant standards such as Machinery Directive, PUWER, ISO/EN mechanical design standards. Training in leadership, management, or project management (e.g., ILM, PRINCE2, PMP). Experience with process automation, modular machine design, or digital engineering initiatives. Relationship and Reporting Line Reports to: Head of Engineering Direct Reports (if applicable): Mechanical Engineering Team Leaders Working relationships with: Project Management, Electrical/Control Engineers, Operations, Commissioning, Service Seniority level Not Applicable Employment type Full‑time Job function Engineering and Information Technology Industries Automation Machinery Manufacturing #J-18808-Ljbffr