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- Tasks: Lead a multidisciplinary team to design cutting-edge uncrewed vehicles.
- Company: Fast-growing global robotics and aerospace company.
- Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package and clear career development opportunities.
- Other info: Supportive leadership team fostering growth and accountability.
- Why this job: Shape the future of uncrewed vehicles and drive innovation in aerospace.
- Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in engineering and experience in leadership roles.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Our client, a fast-growing global robotics and aerospace company, is driving the development of cutting-edge uncrewed vehicles (drones) across air, land, and sea for dual-use applications. We are looking for a highly skilled and experienced Head of Vehicle Design to guide our design engineering team within our USV (Uncrewed Surface Vessel) production facility. This pivotal role involves leading a multidisciplinary team of mechanical, electrical, and software design engineers, ensuring the successful technical execution of our USV production efforts.
You will be the key technical lead and interface between our USV production and R&D design engineering team, ensuring seamless collaboration and knowledge transfer. Working closely with the Programme Manager, you will translate customer technical requirements into actionable engineering tasks, while also providing critical insights into technical feasibility and innovation opportunities. As a leader, you will drive decision-making for the design engineering team, ensuring technical excellence and efficient problem-solving.
This is a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge uncrewed vehicles within a global aerospace and robotics company.
- Technical Leadership: Set the technical vision for the UK engineering team, providing direction, mentorship, and oversight across all engineering disciplines (mechanical, electrical, software).
- Design Authority: Own and approve all major design decisions, system architectures, and technical documentation, ensuring they meet internal standards and customer requirements. Align technical design choices with programme budgets, commercial constraints, and lifecycle cost targets.
- Standards & Quality: Establish and enforce engineering standards, processes, and quality benchmarks to ensure consistency, reliability, and regulatory compliance. Lead the resolution of complex engineering challenges, de-risking the technical roadmap and unblocking delivery obstacles.
- Support recruitment, onboarding, and career development of engineers within the UK. Set clear goals, deliver performance feedback, and foster a culture of accountability and growth.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Act as the technical interface between engineering and internal/external stakeholders, including product managers, OEM partners, and customers. Guide best practices in UXV system integration, testing, and validation - from platform hardware through to AI-enabled autonomy and control systems.
- Risk Management: Identify technical and programme-level risks early, developing and driving mitigation strategies.
- Field & Product Performance: Monitor performance metrics from development through deployment, using trial feedback to inform iterative improvements.
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, or equivalent. Experience in design engineering, with significant experience in a leadership or technical lead role, preferably within a production or manufacturing environment. Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams (mechanical, electrical, software). Proven ability to translate customer requirements into technical specifications and lead design execution. Familiarity with design tools and methodologies relevant to mechanical, electrical, and software engineering. Experience with product lifecycle management (PLM) systems is an advantage. Opportunity to lead and shape the design of cutting-edge uncrewed vehicles within a global aerospace and robotics company. Supportive leadership team and clear career development opportunities. Comprehensive benefits package.
Head of Design Management in Southampton employer: Defence
Contact Detail:
Defence Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Design Management in Southampton
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best design projects and engineering feats. This is your chance to visually demonstrate what you can bring to the table, especially in a role as dynamic as Head of Design Management.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Understand their mission and how your experience aligns with their goals. Tailor your responses to show how you can lead their design engineering team to success.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to 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 are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Design Management in Southampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Design Management role. Highlight your experience in leading multidisciplinary teams and any relevant projects that showcase your technical leadership skills. We want to see how your background aligns with our cutting-edge work in uncrewed vehicles!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about design engineering and how you can contribute to our mission. Be sure to mention specific experiences that demonstrate your ability to translate customer requirements into actionable tasks, as this is key for us.
Showcase Your Technical Expertise: In your application, don’t shy away from showcasing your technical expertise. Mention any design tools or methodologies you’re familiar with, especially those relevant to mechanical, electrical, and software engineering. We love seeing candidates who are well-versed in the latest technologies!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you get all the updates directly. Plus, it shows us you're keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Defence
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the latest trends and technologies in robotics and aerospace. Familiarise yourself with uncrewed vehicles, especially USVs, and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with the technical requirements of the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience leading multidisciplinary teams. Think about specific challenges you've faced and how you guided your team to success. This will demonstrate your ability to mentor and drive decision-making effectively.
✨Understand the Company’s Vision
Research the company’s projects and goals. Be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to their mission of developing cutting-edge uncrewed vehicles. Showing that you understand their vision will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you would act as a technical interface between engineering and stakeholders. Prepare to discuss your approach to stakeholder engagement and how you would ensure seamless collaboration between teams. This is crucial for the role!