Senior Technical Manager – R&D & Manufacturing (Low Voltage Battery Systems)

Salary

£60,000 – £70,000 per annum (DOE)

Overview

Hands-on Senior Technical Manager required to lead engineering, R&D, and operations in a specialist UK manufacturer of 12V/24V battery chargers, power supplies, and bespoke solutions for automotive, telecoms, and industrial sectors.

This is a key role combining technical leadership, product development, and operational improvement within a small SME environment.

Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Act as technical authority for electronics design and product architecture
• Lead development of SMPS, DC-DC converters, and charging systems
• Ensure compliance with CE/UKCA and automotive standards
• Support prototypes, design reviews, and troubleshooting

Product Development

• Own and deliver product roadmap aligned to growth plans
• Drive innovation, cost reduction, and performance improvement
• Translate customer needs into engineering specifications
• Support bespoke and OEM product development

Manufacturing & Operations

• Oversee full lifecycle from concept to low-volume production
• Improve build, test, and quality processes
• Lead root cause analysis for defects and returns
• Manage suppliers and support service/repair processes

Team Leadership

• Lead and mentor small R&D team (incl. succession planning)
• Build capability through recruitment, training, and documentation
• Support manufacturing teams and foster continuous improvement

Compliance

• Ensure adherence to regulatory and automotive standards
• Maintain design, validation, and change control documentation

Requirements

Essential:

• Strong background in automotive electronics & battery systems
• Experience with power electronics and charging systems
• Knowledge of EMC, testing, and product validation
• Leadership experience in engineering or manufacturing
• Proven delivery from concept through to production

Desirable:

• SME or low-volume manufacturing experience
• Hands-on approach to prototyping and problem solving
• Continuous improvement mindset

Working Hours

38 hours per week:

• Mon–Thurs: 8:00am – 5:00pm (30 min unpaid lunch)
• Friday: 8:00am – 1:00pm

Benefits

• Subsidised Private Health Insurance (after 12 months)
• Workplace pension
• Life assurance