• Produce and maintain accurate technical drawings for bespoke office furniture products. 
• Assist in the creation of 2D and 3D models to support engineering and design teams. 
• Ensure that all technical drawings meet industry standards and manufacturing requirements. 

• Work closely with engineers and designers to translate concepts into detailed technical drawings. 
• Support product development efforts by creating drawings for prototypes and production. 
• Assist in revising and updating drawings based on feedback and design changes. 

• Maintain a well-organized CAD database, ensuring easy access to design documents. 
• Identify opportunities for improving CAD workflows and efficiency. 
• Ensure that CAD standards are adhered to across all engineering projects. 

• Proficiency in CAD software – preferably Autodesk Inventor  
• Multi-disciplined product design experience – relevant areas include metalwork, woodwork, injection moulding, upholstery, electrics and acoustics. Custom joinery experience would be very relevant. 
• Completing new product designs from brief, being able to see an entire project through to completion, to timescale. Keeping key project tasks on track throughout to make sure product gets to site correctly, on time. 
• Creating variations/custom versions of existing designs, and re-designing/vaule engineering legacy parts.  
• Hands-on prototyping of parts and complete products. 
• Troubleshooting prototypes and coming up with fast solutions to ensure projects get delivered correctly on time. 
• Checking designs and BOMs, and ERP Production Orders are correct. Ensuring any special parts are ordered and manufactured correctly and can be successfully installed.  
• Working closely with the Operations team to deliver custom products on a project basis. 
• Effective communication and teamwork abilities. 

• Experience as a CAD Technician or similar role within a manufacturing or engineering environment. 
  
• Familiarity with office furniture design or similar product development is desirable. 
  
• Degree or certification in CAD, Engineering, or a related technical discipline. 

• Lead and collaborate with the Head of Engineering and cross-functional teams to ensure products are manufacturable, with particular focus on joinery and furniture assembly.
• Apply a practical approach to manufacturing, ensuring that new designs are technically feasible, cost-effective, and meet product launch timelines.
• Ensure that products meet high-quality standards, are functionally efficient, and deliver value to the customer 

• Stay ahead of industry trends, particularly in the furniture and joinery sectors, to inform manufacturing decisions and ensure product competitiveness.
• Identify new materials, manufacturing technologies, and techniques to improve product offerings, such as more efficient joinery methods and sustainable material choices.
• Research and implement innovative manufacturing techniques, particularly for complex joinery, to reduce costs and increase profit margins.
• Work closely with Procurement to streamline supplier process and reduce manufacturing costs through better design and material selection.
• Collaborate with the supply chain to ensure components are available and managed, supporting manufacturing processes like kitting and modular assembly.

• Parner with product development engineers, CAD technicians, and production teams to ensure that design and function are seamlessly integrated for manufacturability.
• Serve as the primary point of contact between product designers, production teams, and suppliers, ensuring smooth communication and alignment throughout the product development cycle.
• Work with suppliers and internal teams to ensure that products are designed with modularity in mind, simplifying assembly and reducing manufacturing complexity
• Optimize assembly line processes, from component supply through to finished product, ensuring efficiency, accuracy, and quality in the final output.

4. Product Lifecycle and Cost Management: 

• Oversee the entire product lifecycle, identifying opportunities for improvements in both design and cost reductions, especially within joinery and other manufacturing processes
• Maintain focus on the development of efficient assembly processes and component consolidation to minimize parts and assembly time.
• Ensure that all products are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of quality, including the creation of precise assembly drawings and accurate BOMs for production.
• Consolidation of components to reduce the total number of different parts.
• Streamline and simplify products
• Regularly assess product performance in the market and apply feedback to inform future design improvements.

• Provide training and mentor product engineers, production operatives and installation teams, ensuring they are equipped with the necessary skills for efficient manufacturing and assembly.
• Foster a culture of creativity, innovation, and continuous improvement, particularly in the areas of joinery and furniture manufacturing
• Set clear goals for team members and conduct regular performance reviews to ensure alignment with organisational objectives. 

6. Reporting and Performance Metrics: 

• Provide regular reports to senior leadership, including project timelines, costs and any challenges impacting delivery
• Develop KPIs to track product development and manufacturing efficiency, with an emphasis on joinery, assembly processes, and cost reduction. 

Key Skills and Competencies

• Proven leadership skills with experience managing product design teams, particularly within the context of furniture manufacturing and joinery
• Deep knowledge of manufacturing processes, especially in joinery, woodwork, and modular furniture systems
• Exceptional problem-solving abilities, with the ability to simplify complex designs and manufacturing processes.
• Strong project management skills, with experience leading cross-functional teams.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across departments and regions.
• Strategic thinking and ability to balance short-term needs with long-term vision
• Experience and leadership in reducing the number of processing steps and different suppliers needed for a finished product.
• Simplify the production BOM and assembly instructions
• Accuracy in BOM data with clear instructions for production teams

• Extensive experience in product development or design within a manufacturing environment, particularly in the future or joinery sectors.
• Strong background in the design and manufacture of bespoke office furniture, with a solid understanding of woodwork and joinery techniques.
• Experience with product lifecycle management, from ideation through to testing, production, and launch.
• Degree in Product Design, Engineering, or a related field
• Proven experience leading product development teams across international markets, including both the UK and the US.

• Gross profit margin on finished products to reach 50%
• Ensure accurate BOMs and supply chain agreements are in place for each product line.
• Products ready for market at launch, with shipping methods, dispatch assemblies, and installation manuals validated through three successful trial builds.