R&D Engineering Manager in Bristol

We are seeking an experienced Engineering Manager to lead and expand our fast-growing multidisciplinary engineering organization responsible for developing next-generation products. The role oversees a diverse team spanning hardware, embedded software, and mechanical engineering, working closely with product, manufacturing, and quality teams to deliver innovative, high-quality products from concept through mass production. The engineering manager will be responsible for overseeing the product delivery and ensuring that product developments align with the company’s strategic vision and technology roadmap. The successful candidate will be instrumental in guiding this growth — shaping team structure, process maturity, and technical excellence while maintaining a strong partnership with our on-site factory.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership and Team Development
  • Lead, mentor, and grow a multidisciplinary engineering team across multiple domains working with each of the functional lead developers.
  • Define clear roles, responsibilities, and development paths to support both technical and managerial growth.
  • Foster a collaborative, innovative, and high-performance culture focused on quality and results.
  • Plan and manage headcount expansion and organizational scaling in alignment with company growth goals.
• Product Development and Technical Oversight
  • Oversee the end-to-end product development process, from concept and prototyping to validation, production, and launch.
  • Ensure seamless integration of mechanical, electrical, and software systems in product developments.
  • Guide teams in applying sound engineering principles, risk assessment, and design validation practices.
  • Promote design for manufacturability (DFM) and design for Test (DFT) principles to ensure efficient factory transfer.
  • Continue to support production and procurement sustaining activities.
  • Be the primary technical oversight on projects.
• Project Management and Execution
  • Work with the PMO and project management structure to ensure delivery of multiple concurrent projects, balancing scope, quality, cost, and timeline.
  • Establish clear project milestones and ensure on-time, high-quality delivery.
  • Coordinate design reviews, prototype builds, testing, and product qualification activities.
  • Implement effective risk management and issue-resolution processes across all engineering disciplines.
• Process and Performance Improvement
  • Establish and continuously refine engineering processes, documentation standards, and design review practices.
  • Implement scalable development methodologies (e.g., Agile, Stage-Gate, Lean) suited to the company’s growth stage.
  • Introduce best practices and tools to streamline communication, prototyping, and design iteration.
• Budgeting and Resource Management
  • Manage engineering budgets, staffing plans, and capital investments.
  • Optimize use of internal and external resources, balancing flexibility and cost-effectiveness.
  • Oversee procurement and maintenance of engineering lab equipment and test infrastructure.
• Communication and Reporting
  • Communicate engineering status, challenges, and achievements to senior management and stakeholders.
  • Prepare and present technical reports, resource forecasts, and long-term engineering plans.
  • Represent the engineering function in cross-departmental and executive-level meetings.
• Strategic and Organizational Contribution
  • Help shape a scalable engineering organization capable of supporting future product diversity and complexity.
  • Contribute to the company’s long-term product and technology strategy.

The Person

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field (Mechanical, Electrical, Software, or Mechatronics).
• 8+ years of engineering experience in product development, with at least 5+ years in a leadership or management role, managing team sizes of 30+.
• Proven experience leading and developing cross-disciplinary teams in hardware and software product environments.
• Proven experience in bringing products from concept through to market launch.
• Experience in electronics or other complex, high-volume product industries preferred.
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes and new product introduction (NPI) in a factory environment.
• Strong leadership and people management abilities with a proven track record of developing team leaders.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to coordinate across disciplines and translate between technical and business requirements.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Effective communication, stakeholder management, and conflict resolution abilities.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• On-time, on-budget delivery of engineering projects.
• Product performance, quality, and manufacturability metrics.
• Engineering team engagement, retention, and growth success.
• Process efficiency and continuous improvement outcomes.
• Strengthen engineering capacity through strategic hiring and skills development to deliver Ei’s long-term roadmap.

Full Time On-Site co-located with manufacturing. Regular travel to sister site in Bristol, UK, and elsewhere as required by the business (partners, suppliers, customers, conferences, training etc). Fast-paced, hands-on, and innovation-driven environment. Close cross-functional teamwork between engineering, manufacturing, and product groups.

How to apply

Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their CV and a cover letter outlining their suitability for the role to careers@eielectronics.ie. Ei Electronics is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.