Research & Development Director

Research & Development Director The Opportunity A market-leading international engineering and manufacturing business is seeking an experienced Research & Development Director to lead the transformation of its global engineering and product development function. Reporting directly to the Managing Director, this is a board-facing leadership role with responsibility for a team of approximately 27 engineers and an annual R&D budget of circa £12 million. The successful candidate will drive engineering excellence, product portfolio optimisation, value engineering, cost reduction, manufacturing efficiency and targeted innovation, ensuring products remain commercially competitive while supporting future growth. Key Responsibilities • Lead and develop a high-performing Engineering and R&D function. • Drive product reengineering, value engineering and cost optimisation programmes. • Implement Design for Manufacture (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) methodologies. • Improve product quality, reliability, serviceability and manufacturability. • Establish engineering governance, project management and stage-gate processes. • Develop and deliver a long-term product roadmap aligned to business strategy. • Lead targeted new product development and innovation initiatives. • Collaborate closely with Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Commercial teams to improve business performance. About You You will have: • Proven leadership experience within Engineering, R&D or Product Development. • A strong track record of engineering transformation and organisational change. • Experience delivering product reengineering, value engineering and cost reduction initiatives. • Strong knowledge of DFM, DFA, product lifecycle management and engineering governance. • Experience managing substantial engineering budgets and multidisciplinary teams. • A commercially focused approach combined with strong technical credibility. Experience within industrial instrumentation, engineered products, manufacturing technology or industrial equipment environments would be highly advantageous. Why Apply? This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of a highly respected engineering and manufacturing business. You will have significant influence over strategy, engineering investment, product development and operational performance while playing a key role in the company's long-term growth and success. Please send your CV via the system