About Us
The Tibbetts Group is a UK-based, family-owned group with over 40 years of experience supplying high-quality engineered products and components to specialist markets including Automotive, Aerospace, Industrial, Construction and Security.
With over 150 employees and operations across the UK, we work with customers and supply partners around the world, exporting to more than 40 countries. Our business is built around engineering excellence, high standards and long‑term customer and supplier relationships.
We are a growing organisation, combining strong family values with a commercially focused approach and a commitment to continuous improvement. Our people are at the heart of our success, and we encourage ownership, determination and a focus on delivering the highest standards for our customers.
About the Role
The Group Product Engineering Team Leader will have responsibility for the Product Engineering team and activities within the Technical Department across all Tibbetts Group businesses. The role will lead engineering resources to deliver new products, manage existing product ranges, drive product improvements, and ensure products are designed, validated, and maintained to meet customer expectations, commercial objectives, and regulatory requirements.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, coach and manage Product Engineering teams.
- Promote the three axes of Product Engineering: (1) Approval, (2) Inspection and (3) Support.
- Establish Product Engineering KPIs covering quality, defects, approvals and project delivery, including New Product Introduction.
- Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for significant product or supplier failures to drive a zero‑defect strategy.
- Maintain robust Product Range Control, specifications, drawings and technical records.
- Drive value engineering and standardisation without compromising quality, supported by supplier audits.
- Coordinate and facilitate new product development (ThinkTank) with Sales, Operations, Quality, Procurement and customers (PDL, CDL).
- Manage the supplier audit programme, conducting audits in line with Group business requirements. World travel will be required.
- Protect intellectual property and ensure confidentiality of technical information, including product and channel certification.
- Provide the Management Team with regular reports on technical risks, projects and performance.
- Ensure regulatory, legal, safety and environmental compliance across all products and markets.
- Maintain business continuity plans for critical products, suppliers, tooling and technical data.
Multi‑Site & International Working
- Work collaboratively across the Group’s four sites and business divisions.
- Frequent travel between sites will be required, using the company’s pool cars.
- International travel will also be required, including supplier visits and audits.
About You
We are looking for an experienced engineering or technical leader with a proven track record of managing teams, delivering projects and driving quality and continuous improvement.
- Previous management experience is essential, with proven ability to lead, develop, coach and motivate engineering, technical or quality teams.
- Experience managing priorities, workload, performance and project delivery across multiple sites or business divisions.
- Degree or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality or a related discipline.
- Experience in Quality, Compliance and structured problem solving, including root cause analysis and corrective actions.
- Experience managing New Product Introductions (NPI) and cross‑functional projects.
- Knowledge and practical understanding of ISO 9001.
- Strong understanding of structured problem‑solving methodologies.
- Strong communication, presentation and report‑writing skills.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to work effectively across departments, sites, suppliers and customers.
- Ability and willingness to travel frequently across the Group’s four sites through use of our pool cars.
- Experience conducting supplier audits and managing supplier performance.
- Experience working within a manufacturing or product engineering environment.
- Experience with product approvals, certification and regulatory compliance.
- Experience in value engineering, product standardisation and continuous improvement.
- Experience managing technical documentation, specifications, drawings and product records.
- Experience working with international suppliers and customers.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary, dependent on experience.
- Annual bonus.
- Cashplan scheme available upon successful completion of your probationary period.
- Bi‑Annual Summer Social.
- Value Scheme.
- Employee Referral Programme.
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