Head of Engineering

Southampton £60-70K + bens

Owner Managed SME

Electronics | Industrial Computing | Mission-Critical Technology

Lead the engineering function. Shape the future of a specialist technology business.

An established UK engineering business, designing and supplying specialist computer hardware and systems since the 1980s, now requires a Head of Engineering lead and influence its next stage of development.

The company designs and supplies mission-critical industrial computing solutions used in demanding environments across defence, transport and manufacturing. Its products are built for reliability, long lifecycles and challenging operating conditions, with applications ranging from food measurement to submarine systems.

This is an opportunity for you, as an experienced electronics engineer, to take a hands-on leadership role within a small, highly capable team, with real influence over how the engineering function and wider business develop.

The role

Reporting to the MD and leading the engineering team, you will become the company's technical lead and engineering authority, ensuring projects are delivered to specification, on time and to a high standard.

You will:

• Lead, develop and motivate the Engineering team.
• Plan engineering capacity, workflow and project priorities.
• Manage projects from concept and design through prototyping, compliance and production.
• Maintain project schedules, BOMs, specifications and technical documentation.
• Provide technical support to Sales and join customer meetings.
• Translate customer requirements into practical, commercially viable solutions.
• Improve communication between Engineering, Sales and Operations.
• Ensure appropriate ISO, CE/UKCA and industry standards are met.
• Develop engineering processes, systems and continuous-improvement practices.
• Provide oversight of the company's external IT support and engineering systems.

About you

You are an experienced electronics engineer who has developed into a confident team leader.

You will ideally have:

• A degree in Electronics Engineering or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years' engineering management/supervisory experience.
• Strong electronics design and full product lifecycle experience.
• Experience working to standards such as ISO, MIL-STD or DEF STAN.
• Experience with customer requirements and technical proposals.
• Good project planning and workflow management skills.
• The ability to understand both electronic and mechanical engineering considerations.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to explain technical issues simply.

Most importantly, you are methodical, practical, commercially aware and comfortable taking ownership.

You enjoy creating structure, solving problems, developing people and finding better ways of working. Experience of Agile, Lean or structured project environments would be advantageous.

Why join?

This is a rare opportunity to join an ambitious, owner-managed specialist engineering business where decisions can be made quickly and you can genuinely influence the future direction of the company.

The environment is professional, relaxed and friendly, with a small dedicated team and the freedom to make a meaningful difference.

If you want technical responsibility, leadership influence and the opportunity to shape a growing business, this role offers considerably more than a conventional Head of Engineering position.