Product Development Manager

Product Development Manager

ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION

FUELLED BY PEOPLE WITH PASSION

COMPANY OVERVIEW

STIRLING AT A GLANCE

70+

Aircraft worked on

300+

F-35 pilot control sets produced

10+

Navies supported worldwide

30+

Years of service

6

Technical papers presented to industry last year

70%

Percentage of exports

Founded in 1987, Stirling Dynamics has grown from a handful of expert engineers to a team of 100+ staff. The success of the company is made possible through a customer-focussed, can-do culture. Everything we do is underpinned by our company mission statement:

· To deliver innovative technical services and technology solutions into our core markets

· To build sustainable, beneficial relationships between suppliers, clients and institutions

· To be recognised as an innovator and catalyst of new technologies

· To continue to make valuable investments for the future through education, research and development

STRATEGY AND BUSINESS PERFORMANCE

Strong financial performance is essential to support investment and growth. Looking forward we aim to achieve the following objectives:

· Increased business development and marketing activities to develop new markets

· Addition of new engineering capabilities to meet emerging customer needs

· Technology refresh for control products and systems

· Increased investment in training and professional development schemes

BENEFITS

Up to 30 days

Tax/NI savings

10am-3pm

Up to £3,000

Personal/ Company

Up to £3,000

Private

3x salary

Annual Leave

Pension Scheme

Flexible Working

½ day Friday

Cycle to Work

Bonus

Recommend a Friend

Healthcare

Life Assurance

We offer a range of benefits to our employees to recognise their efforts. Playing hard is equally as important as working hard, so regular events are held throughout the year which provide an ideal opportunity to mix socially.

THE ROLE

Stirling Dynamics designs and produces state-of-the-art solutions for pilot training, aircraft simulation and flight test applications.

Stirling’s family of active controls are feature-rich, highly reconfigurable and suitable for single or dual (linked) fixed or rotary wing cockpit configurations. Our range of active products includes; side sticks, throttles, collectives, cyclics, pedals, g-seats etc.

Due to an increase in volume of work from new contracts and ongoing internal product development, Stirling Dynamics is looking for an experienced Product Development Manager (PDM) to join our team.

The purpose of the role is to deliver the company projects across all Active Control Technology (ACT) product development activities (typically 2-4 simultaneous projects). The development activities comprise either the development of new or evolution of existing products.

The role scope is applicable to both bids and projects with the objective of achieving a successful (high quality, on-time and profitable technical solution) outcome.

As a matrix organisation, the PDM will draw on the relevant functions (engineering, project management etc.) in order to form a delivery team for each project.

The role will be line managed by the Head of Engineering and report (from a Project performance perspective) to the ACT Business Manager.

The role will suit a leader with an electro-mechanical/mechatronics engineering background with project delivery and production experience (Note: the production experience is to ensure the design solution is robust from a production perspective - the role has no direct production responsibility as this falls under the Production Controller).

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

· As the accountable person for the delivery of all development projects, ensure a successful solution that achieves time, cost and quality objectives while complying with customer and regulative requirements.

· Work with the Project Management function (under the PDM direction) to ensure project time and cost objectives are met.

· Provide technical governance and leadership across the development projects with the aid of the applicable Technical Managers (TMs) where applicable (Note: overall project technical accountability resides with the PDM).

· Lead the formation of technical bids, ensuring the offering is robust and fulfils the customer, business and regulative needs.

· Work with the business stakeholders to plan the future direction of the product to ensure that the company portfolio remains highly relevant to the target market sectors.

· Identify, select and implement new technologies for both design and manufacture that ensure that products remain technologically advanced and price competitive.

· Work with the business stakeholders to continually improve the product and development process.

· Work in close cooperation with the wider company TMs team to ensure the correct capabilities (people, skills, tools, processes etc.) are available (TM responsibility) to deliver current and future development bids/projects.

· Promote awareness and ensure compliance the Company Quality Management Systems, Engineering/Production Process/Procedure and relevant organisations and statutory bodies.

· Act as a stakeholder in the formation and improvement of engineering and production processes relevant to product development.

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

· Degree qualified in a relevant engineering discipline.

· Full systems development lifecycle exposure.

· Successfully led engineering projects/programmes from concept through to production.

· Demonstrable experience in the design and development of products containing;

· Commercial off-the-shelf electro-mechanical devices (actuators, motors, gearboxes etc.)

· Bespoke electronics hardware and software

· Experience in design for manufacture.

· Exposure in developing software for embedded electronic systems would be an advantage.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

The personal qualities of the jobholder will be key to success in this role. The role demands a self-motivated attitude with a real drive to progress. The following characteristics and qualities are identified as essential for the role:

· Demonstrable experience in the successful, technical delivery of projects and programmes.

· An ability to manage multiple tasks, to work independently when required, and the organisation and drive to follow through to a successful outcome.

· A team player who can lead a cohesive and efficient multi-disciplined group of engineers.

· The ability to work efficiently and accurately, with an attention to detail, and the discipline to self-check results.

· Apply a pragmatic and practical approach to engineering activities and ensure the approach is optimal in order to achieve a compliant yet time and cost-efficient outcome.

· Good interpersonal skills, including a diplomatic and professional approach when dealing with people.

· The confidence to challenge practices and the willingness to question in order to gain a full understanding of issues. Escalate and communicate issues when necessary.

· Offer solutions and improvements in order to overcome issues.

· A willingness to embrace change and an ability to implement new processes.

· Clear and confident communicator both written and oral.

· Ability to work to tight deadlines.

· Build and maintain positive customer working relationships.

· Can demonstrate an interest in staying abreast of technological and industrial advancements in the given engineering discipline so that expertise remains current and topical.

· Provide technical expertise support to Business Management/Business Development when interfacing within existing or new customers in relation to new business opportunities.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Pay & Benefits – Competitive Package (Grade 8)

Department – Engineering

Reporting to – Head of Engineering

Location – Bristol – Stoke Gifford

Contract type – Full-time, permanent

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Product Development Manager