Drawing Office Manager

Location: Essex
Salary: -55,000 - -65,000 + Benefits
Job Type: Permanent

The Opportunity

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Drawing Office Manager to join a leading engineering business specialising in bespoke automation and capital equipment.

This is a key leadership role responsible for managing the Design Office, ensuring high-quality engineering output, driving continuous improvement, and supporting the successful delivery of customer projects. You''ll lead a team of Design Engineers while remaining technically involved in complex mechanical design activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Drawing Office, ensuring projects are delivered on time and to the highest quality standards.
• Allocate design resources across multiple engineering projects based on workload and priorities.
• Monitor project progress, capacity and delivery schedules, identifying and mitigating potential risks.
• Conduct design reviews and provide technical guidance to Design Engineers.
• Support complex mechanical design activities during peak workloads.
• Develop and maintain engineering design standards, best practices and component libraries.
• Manage Autodesk Vault data and ensure drawing and BOM integrity.
• Ensure engineering documentation is accurate, controlled and compliant throughout the project lifecycle.
• Work closely with Project Managers, Production and Procurement to ensure successful project delivery.
• Support early procurement activities for long-lead components.
• Provide technical input for customer enquiries and new project quotations.
• Mentor, develop and carry out performance reviews for Design Engineers.
• Drive continuous improvement across design processes and departmental performance.

About You

• Previous experience leading a Design Office or Mechanical Design team.
• Strong mechanical design background within automation, capital equipment or special purpose machinery.
• Proficient in Autodesk Inventor, AutoCAD and Autodesk Vault (SolidWorks experience also considered).
• Strong understanding of BS8888 drafting standards.
• Experience with machining, fabrication and sheet metal design.
• Knowledge of engineer-to-order manufacturing and long-duration projects.
• Experience managing BOMs and CAD data linked to ERP systems.
• Excellent communication, leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem solving.

Desirable Skills

• Experience with conveyor systems, airflow or ductwork design.
• Knowledge of ATEX and machinery safety standards.
• Membership of a recognised engineering institution.

What''s on Offer

• -55,000 - -65,000 basic salary.
• Permanent position with a growing engineering business.
• Opportunity to lead a highly skilled design team on technically challenging projects.
• Long-term career progression and professional development.
• Comprehensive benefits package.