Drawing Office Manager

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
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed