About the Role:
Working within a small Design Department this position is based at our manufacturing base in Send, Woking (with occasional international travel and remote working) and works closely with Production Engineering, Quality & Machine Shop departments. The position is responsible for creative technical innovation within the Company, whether through substantial internal optical, digital, mechanical and electronic design capabilities or through outside agencies.
To allow the flow of new ideas and stimulate product development, product design and development, the department is split within the company across two teams.
For initial concepts, the Concept Development Team consists of:
- 1 Innovation Leader
- 1 Mechanical Engineer
- 1 Optical Engineer
- 1 Digital Engineer
For full implementation from concept through to prototyping to production, the Production Design Team consists of:
- 1 Chief Engineer;
- 5 Design Engineers;
- 1 Project Manager
- 1 Digital Developments Manager:
- 1 Production Draughtsman
- 1 Project Buyer.
The position reports to the Group Design & Development Director.
What you will be doing:
This is a 2 phase role:
Phase One (approx. 3 years): Research Design Innovator:
This role is to take a proactive lead in R&D initiatives, exploring and promoting the adoption of new technologies and collaborating with external research organisations and academics (UK and overseas).
- Leading the Concept Development Team to drive research programs, generate innovative new technologies and intellectual property, to the point of functioning proof of concept models that will form the road map for future product development;
- The Concept Team are located within the Design area and have direct access to development labs, fully equipped optical benches, and dedicated prototyping machinery and 3D printers. A wide range of software tools such as CREO, Zemax Mathcad is used, as well as project management software, such as Smartsheet, Microsoft Project and Trello.
Phase Two (after 3 years and satisfactory performance): Design & Development Director
Responsible at Executive Director level and contributing to the strategic plans whilst leading the entire Design team and all technological innovation of the Company to ensure the delivery, and budgetary control, of new designs from the concept stage to the development of prototypes through to finished products and providing technical support to manufacturing.
What we are looking for:
This role requires a high degree of technical creativity, with a good formal qualification (BSc or BEng in a Physical Science, Engineering, Optoelectronics, Photonics, Electronic Engineering or Mechatronics) and a minimum of 5 years’ experience in relevant R & D environments.
This is an influential role, inputting ideas which progress to marketable products, so candidates must be creative, dynamic, innovative, self-motivated, hands-on team players, with good communication skills who are ready to generate ideas.
An experienced understanding of IP generation, application filing and innovation grant fund management would also be a benefit, but not vital.
What’s on offer:
This is a full time, permanent position, 40 hours per week – Monday to Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm with an hour lunch break, with flexibility on the start and finish times in line with the Company’s core working hours policy.
- Additional production bonus (variable but approx. 4% of basic salary payable monthly in arrears); linked to the value of goods invoiced from the UK factory base;
- Aviva private pension scheme, in line with Government legislation and guidelines. Currently 5% employee contribution and 3% employer contribution;
- BUPA, private medical insurance with minimal, monthly contributions (subject to 6 months satisfactory service);
- Simply Health Optimise Plus Plan, non-contributory cash back plan for claiming monies back for treatments (subject to 6 months satisfactory service);
- Life insurance (Death in Service scheme) equivalent to 2 years’ basic salary to next of kin (subject to 6 months satisfactory service);
- 24 days holiday per annum (plus additional Bank Holidays);
- Sickness absence pay (subject to 6 months satisfactory service);
- Cycle to Work scheme (subject to 6 months satisfactory service);
- Administration of government childcare vouchers;
- Multi-cultural feast day celebrations and charitable opportunities;
- Excellent staff facilities;
- Free on-site parking, including access to EV car charging points;
- Transport to and from the local station;
- Free membership of an on-site gym;
- Free weekly on site yoga sessions with a celebrated local yogini;
- Free weekly on site boxercise sessions with an experienced martial artist & instructor.
Staff Development is key to our continued success and, as a result, we have a well-funded staff development budget, and dedicated Staff Development team. The Staff Development programme operates throughout the entire Company, and allows for professional, personal and tailored development and training to suit the individual needs and requirements of each staff member.
Vision Engineering is a progressive, forward thinking company, which subscribes fully to the letter and spirit of equal opportunity.
