Details
About Us:
Magnetic Shields Limited (MSL) is a family-run industry leader in the design and manufacture of magnetically shielded products and rooms. Our state-of-the-art factory, equipped with high-power fibre cutting laser and full stock automation, has more than doubled our production capacity over the last 5 years. This period of expansion is an exciting time for the company, and we are looking to speak to applicants interested in heading up our Mechanical Engineering, Electronics Engineering and Physics Teams as the Engineering Manager.
Role Overview:
MSL is seeking an Engineering Manager to lead and coordinate the technical teams within the Research, Design and Development function. The role is responsible for delivering technically robust, manufacturable, and commercially viable engineering solutions across MSL’s product and project portfolio.
The Engineering Manager will provide technical leadership and strategic direction across multidisciplinary engineering and delivery activities, ensuring projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and to a high technical standard. The role requires strong people leadership combined with a practical understanding of mixed-discipline engineering development environments.
This position is central to aligning engineering execution with business objectives, customer requirements, manufacturing capability, and innovation strategy.
Team Leadership & Management:
- Lead, develop, and manage the Mechanical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Software Engineering and Physics teams.
- Conduct regular one-to-one meetings, performance reviews, and development planning.
- Build a collaborative and accountable engineering culture focused on technical excellence and delivery.
- Allocate engineering resources effectively across projects and priorities.
- Support recruitment, onboarding, and retention of engineering personnel.
- Mentor engineers and support technical career progression.
Technical & Project Oversight:
- Oversee the technical delivery of multidisciplinary engineering projects from concept through to manufacture and installation.
- Ensure engineering activities are executed in accordance with technical, quality, cost, and schedule requirements.
- Coordinate cross-functional design reviews and technical decision-making.
- Support system architecture and high-level technical trade-off decisions.
- Ensure designs are practical, manufacturable, serviceable, and compliant with relevant standards.
- Identify technical risks and implement mitigation strategies.
- Responsibility for the technical qualification of manufactured and installed products through the Physics Team.
Engineering Process & Continuous Improvement:
- Develop and improve engineering processes, documentation standards, and workflows.
- Promote structured design methodologies, configuration control, and engineering governance.
- Drive continuous improvement in product reliability, engineering efficiency, and development quality.
- Support implementation and maintenance of engineering tools, systems, and best practices.
- Ensure lessons learned are captured and incorporated into future projects.
Strategic & Commercial Contribution:
- Contribute to engineering strategy, technology roadmap development, and innovation planning.
- Support cost reduction, manufacturability, and product lifecycle initiatives.
- Assist with technical planning, budgeting, and resource forecasting.
- Support bid and proposal activities with technical input and feasibility assessments.
Compliance & Safety:
- Ensure engineering activities comply with applicable safety, quality, and regulatory standards.
- Promote safe engineering practices and adherence to company procedures.
- Support risk assessments, design reviews, and compliance documentation.
Required Qualifications & Experience:
- Degree qualified in Mechanical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline.
- Significant engineering experience within a multidisciplinary technical environment.
- Previous experience leading engineering teams or technical project groups.
- Strong understanding of product development and engineering lifecycle processes.
- Experience managing complex technical projects involving multiple engineering disciplines.
- Excellent communication, organisational, and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capability.
Desirable Experience:
- Experience working to (and ideally implementing) design and development activities under ISO9001
- Experience within scientific instrumentation, electromagnetic systems, vacuum systems, precision engineering, or related advanced technology sectors.
- Familiarity with regulated or high-specification engineering environments.
- Experience supporting transition from R&D into production.
- Understanding of systems engineering principles.
- Experience with engineering change control and configuration management processes.
Key Competencies:
- Technical leadership
- People management
- Strategic thinking
- Project delivery
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Decision-making under uncertainty using risk-informed evaluation
- Resource planning
- Continuous improvement mindset
- Commercial awareness
Success Measures:
- Successful delivery of engineering projects to schedule and budget.
- Engineering quality and reduction of technical issues.
- Effective utilisation and development of engineering teams.
- Improvement in engineering processes and documentation standards.
- Positive collaboration between departments.
- Contribution to innovation and product development objectives.
Benefits
• Competitive pay
• Benenden health cover
• Competitive holiday entitlement
• Quarterly performance bonuses
• Comprehensive company sick pay
• Enhanced pension contributions
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Exclusive discounts portal
• Double death-in-service cover
• On-site Mental Health First Aiders
• Training & development pathways
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
Engineering Manager in Kent employer: Magnetic Shields Limited
Magnetic Shields Limited is an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration, making it an ideal place for an Engineering Manager to thrive. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we offer continuous professional development opportunities and a supportive work environment that values safety and efficiency. Located in a vibrant area, our team enjoys a dynamic workplace where creativity meets technical excellence, ensuring meaningful contributions to cutting-edge projects.
