At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering teams to deliver innovative products on time and ensure compliance with standards.
- Company: A leading international tech manufacturer based in County Durham.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and a dynamic work environment.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for cross-site teamwork and external partnerships.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in product development and compliance while leading talented teams.
- Qualifications: Experience in engineering leadership and product development in relevant sectors.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
The Client My client is a leading international technology manufacturer headquartered in County Durham and is looking for a people-driven Director of R&D to lead best-in-class NPD delivery. This is a highly hands-on role, focused on execution, product lifecycle excellence and compliance - not strategic R&D oversight or architectural ownership.
About the Role Reporting to the Global Head of R&D, the Director of R&D will drive high-quality, on-time product development and sustaining engineering across the business unit portfolio, with full accountability for product compliance to all relevant standards and regulations. Leading UK-based engineering and product compliance teams, the role works closely with European R&D leadership to align priorities, accelerate execution, and deliver consistently strong performance across sites.
Main Responsibilities
- Engineering Delivery & Execution
- Own delivery of UK-based engineering projects (scope, timeline, quality)
- Drive predictable execution through structured planning, tracking, and accountability
- Align engineering capacity with project priorities and business needs
- Establish and manage delivery KPIs (cycle time, on-time delivery, throughput)
- Product Lifecycle & Sustaining Engineering
- Own engineering support for the existing product portfolio, including:
- Obsolescence-driven redesigns
- Cost optimisation and component changes
- Regulatory and standards-driven updates
- Ensure continuity of supply and product competitiveness
- Balance new product development and sustaining engineering activities
- Product Compliance Leadership
- Lead the Product Compliance team within R&D
- Ensure all products meet relevant regulatory, safety, and certification requirements
- Maintain alignment with applicable standards (e.g. IEC, ISO, regional compliance requirements)
- Work closely with engineering teams to embed compliance early in development
- Support certification, audits, and regulatory approvals
- Team Leadership & Capability Building
- Lead and develop UK-based engineering and compliance teams
- Build a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement
- Strengthen technical and delivery leadership within the team
- Ensure effective resource utilisation and capability development
- Cross-Site Collaboration
- Work closely with European-based R&D leadership and engineering teams to ensure aligned priorities and coordinated execution
- Support a unified development model across UK and Europe
- Contribute to a cohesive, high-performing engineering organisation across locations
- External Development Integration
- Integrate external development partners to increase engineering capacity and speed
- Define clear scopes, interfaces, and deliverables
- Ensure quality and timely delivery from external partners
- Process & Performance Improvement
- Improve engineering efficiency, reducing development cycle time and rework
- Implement pragmatic, scalable development processes (Agile / hybrid)
- Ensure clear visibility of delivery performance, risks, and dependencies
- Proactively remove technical and organisational blockers
About You To be considered for the role, it is essential that you possess demonstrable experience and strength in the leading of engineering teams and NPD, in the electronics, testing & measurement, safety or instrumentation product sectors. You will also be degree qualified in an appropriate discipline.
Key Selection Criteria
- Familiarity with platform-based product architectures
- Strong track record of delivering complex engineering projects on time and to quality targets
- Experience in multidisciplinary engineering (hardware, embedded software, systems)
- Experience managing product compliance, certification, or regulatory activities
- Experience working across multiple locations or distributed teams
- Experience working with external development partners or outsourced engineering models
- Strong execution focus with ability to deliver results through teams
- Structured, data-driven approach to problem solving
- Ability to manage complexity and competing priorities
- Clear and effective communication across technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Pragmatic, delivery-oriented mindset with high accountability
- Collaborative leadership style with ability to influence across locations
Director of R&D in North East employer: Catalyst
As a leading international technology manufacturer based in County Durham, our company is committed to fostering a dynamic and inclusive work environment where innovation thrives. We offer competitive benefits, a strong focus on employee development, and the opportunity to lead high-impact projects in a collaborative setting. Join us to be part of a culture that values accountability, continuous improvement, and cross-site collaboration, ensuring your contributions are recognised and rewarded.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of R&D in North East
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about letting people know you’re on the hunt for a Director of R&D role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into the company’s products and compliance standards. Show them you’re not just a fit on paper but that you genuinely understand their challenges and can lead their engineering teams to success.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to showcase your leadership style! Be ready to discuss how you’ve built high-performing teams and driven accountability in past roles. They want to see that you can inspire and manage diverse teams across locations.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of R&D in North East
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the job description. Highlight your experience in leading engineering teams and delivering complex projects, especially in the electronics or instrumentation sectors. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for the Director of R&D role. Share specific examples of your past successes in product lifecycle management and compliance. Remember, we love a good story!
Showcase Your Leadership Style:In your application, don't forget to highlight your collaborative leadership style. Talk about how you've built accountability and continuous improvement within your teams. We’re all about strong team dynamics here at StudySmarter!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates. Plus, it’s super easy – just a few clicks and you’re done!
How to prepare for a job interview at Catalyst
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the specifics of product lifecycle management and compliance standards relevant to the role. Brush up on your knowledge of IEC, ISO, and any regional regulations that might come into play. This will show that you’re not just a fit for the role but also genuinely interested in the company’s operations.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading engineering teams and driving project delivery. Think about times when you’ve built a culture of accountability or improved team performance. Be ready to discuss how you can apply these skills to lead the UK-based engineering and compliance teams effectively.
✨Be Data-Driven
Since this role requires a structured, data-driven approach, come prepared with metrics or KPIs from your previous projects. Discuss how you tracked progress, managed timelines, and ensured quality. This will demonstrate your ability to deliver results through a systematic approach.
✨Collaboration is Key
Highlight your experience working across multiple locations and with external partners. Prepare to discuss how you’ve successfully aligned priorities and coordinated execution in past roles. This will show that you understand the importance of collaboration in achieving high-quality outcomes.
