Engineering Supervisor Product Engineering Laboratory

Relocation: Applications are welcome from candidates currently based in Portugal and willing to relocate to the company's location.

About the Opportunity

We are partnering with an international manufacturing organisation to recruit an experienced Engineering Supervisor to lead a Product Engineering Laboratory supporting the validation, testing and continuous improvement of innovative automotive products.

This is an exciting opportunity for an engineering leader with a strong laboratory background who enjoys combining technical expertise with people management and operational excellence.

Reporting into the Engineering organisation, you will be responsible for leading laboratory operations, ensuring compliance with international testing standards, managing laboratory resources and developing a high-performing engineering team. You will play a key role in supporting product development, maintaining the highest quality standards and driving continuous improvement across all laboratory activities.

Key ResponsibilitiesLaboratory Leadership

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  Lead, coach and develop a team of Laboratory Engineers.

  
  


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  Create a collaborative, accountable and high-performance team culture.

  
  


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  Allocate laboratory resources according to business priorities and project requirements.

  
  


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  Support the technical and professional development of the engineering team through mentoring and coaching.

  
  


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  Collaborate closely with Engineering, Manufacturing and Quality teams to ensure successful project delivery.

  
  

Laboratory Operations

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  Manage the day-to-day operation of the Product Engineering Laboratory.

  
  


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  Ensure all laboratory activities are performed safely, efficiently and in compliance with Health & Safety requirements.

  
  


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  Oversee the maintenance, calibration and continuous improvement of laboratory equipment and testing facilities.

  
  


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  Plan laboratory capacity to ensure testing activities are completed on schedule.

  
  

Product Testing & Validation

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  Coordinate product validation and qualification testing throughout the product development lifecycle.

  
  


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  Ensure all testing activities comply with customer specifications, engineering requirements and international standards.

  
  


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  Verify appropriate testing methodologies, sample preparation and testing conditions.

  
  


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  Review and validate technical reports and test results before release.

  
  


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  Analyse laboratory findings and support technical investigations and root cause analysis where required.

  
  

Quality & Compliance

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  Ensure full compliance with ISO 17025 laboratory requirements and recognised automotive industry standards.

  
  


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  Maintain accurate, complete and fully traceable laboratory documentation.

  
  


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  Support internal and external quality audits.

  
  


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  Keep laboratory procedures aligned with industry standards and evolving customer requirements.

  
  

Continuous Improvement

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  Define laboratory objectives and monitor performance through key performance indicators (KPIs).

  
  


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  Identify opportunities to improve testing capability, laboratory efficiency and operational performance.

  
  


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  Support investment planning for new laboratory equipment and testing technologies.

  
  


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  Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality, productivity and operational excellence.

  
  

Cross-Functional Collaboration

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  Partner with Product Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality and Project Management teams throughout product development activities.

  
  


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  Provide technical expertise and recommendations based on laboratory results.

  
  


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  Collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary and international engineering teams.

  
  

Non-Negotiable Requirements

Candidates must meet all of the following criteria:

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  Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Materials Engineering, Physics or a related Engineering discipline.

  
  


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  Minimum of 5 years' experience working within an engineering or product testing laboratory.

  
  


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  Previous experience within the Automotive industry.

  
  


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  Proven experience supervising or leading engineering or laboratory teams.

  
  


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  Strong knowledge of ISO 17025 laboratory requirements and quality systems.

  
  


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  Experience coordinating product validation and testing activities.

  
  


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  Fluent English, both written and spoken.

  
  


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  Availability to work on-site in Portugal.

  
  


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  Candidates currently based outside Portugal must be willing to relocate.

  
  

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in the following areas will be considered an advantage:

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  International automotive testing standards and validation methodologies.

  
  


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  Electronic hardware and software.

  
  


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  Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) or similar laboratory management platforms.

  
  


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  Laboratory resource planning, equipment acquisition and calibration management.

  
  


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  Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement or Six Sigma methodologies.

  
  


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  Working within international and cross-functional engineering environments.

  
  

Skills & Competencies

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

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  Strong leadership and people management skills.

  
  


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  Excellent planning, organisational and prioritisation abilities.

  
  


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  Analytical thinking and structured problem-solving.

  
  


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  Sound decision-making and risk assessment capabilities.

  
  


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  Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

  
  


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  Customer-focused mindset.

  
  


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  Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

  
  


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  High attention to detail and commitment to quality.

  
  


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  Practical, hands-on and solution-oriented approach.

  
  


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  Strong ownership, accountability and continuous improvement mindset.

  
  

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to take on a key leadership role within an international manufacturing environment, where you will directly influence product quality, laboratory performance and engineering excellence.

You will join an organisation committed to innovation, continuous improvement and professional development, working alongside experienced engineering teams on advanced automotive products while building your career in a highly technical and collaborative environment.