Engineering Manager

Engineering Manager

Location: Wakefield

Salary: £50,000 - £55,000 + a well rounded benefits package

KO2 Recruitment is delighted to be partnering with a well-established manufacturing business based in Wakefield in their search for an experienced Engineering Manager to join their senior team.

The Role

This is a hands-on leadership role at the heart of the business, responsible for leading, managing, and developing the Engineering function to deliver innovative, cost-effective, and high-quality engineering solutions that support their client's product development, manufacturing, and strategic objectives.

You'll provide leadership across Engineering, Spray Painting, Automation, and Injection Moulding departments, ensuring resources are effectively integrated and optimised to achieve operational excellence. You'll continually review and develop departmental strategies, aligning them with the wider business, production, and sales objectives while driving continuous improvement, innovation, and performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Take overall ownership of the Engineering, Spray Painting, Automated Production, and Injection Moulding departments, ensuring resources are used effectively to meet business objectives
• Manage day-to-day operations across the department, making sure work is safely planned, prioritised, and delivered in line with customer needs
• Plan and deliver engineering projects, product improvements, and new equipment or process introductions
• Champion continuous improvement across the department, driving efficiency, quality, and performance gains
• Keep engineering equipment, tools, machinery, and stock levels well maintained to ensure maximum reliability
• Line manage a team of 4 engineers, running regular 1-2-1s, performance reviews, and succession planning to build a strong, capable team
• Partner with Production, Planning, Purchasing, Technical, and Logistics to keep activities coordinated and business goals on track
• Assess current and future staffing, training, and resourcing needs, flagging requirements to senior management as needed
• Maintain compliance with Health & Safety, Environmental, and Quality standards across all engineering activities
• Report regularly on engineering performance, quality metrics, project progress, and risk, with recommendations for senior leadership
• Represent Engineering at production, continuous improvement, and Health & Safety meetings, offering technical input where needed.

What You'll Bring

Essential:

• Experience in precision engineering and manufacturing
• Experience operating and programming CNC machinery
• Understanding of 2D/3D CAD modelling
• Proficient in press tooling, jigs, and fixture design and manufacture
• Strong understanding of engineering principles and best practices
• At least 5 years in a supervisory or leadership role within a manufacturing/logistics environment
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, tools, and equipment
• Proven ability to lead and manage a team, with excellent communication, motivational, and conflict-resolution skills

Desirable:

• Experience with spray painting processes (gloss, K2)
• Extrusion saw operation and material preparation experience
• Professional engineering certification (e.g., CEng, IET membership)
• Experience and knowledge of injection moulding
• Knowledge of industry standards such as IPC-A-610, RoHS, and ISO 9001