Senior Design Lead

Senior Design Lead Role Purpose

This is a senior tool design role for an experienced press tool / die designer ready to take on leadership of the design team. The successful candidate will combine hands on design authority - reviewing and approving tool and jig designs produced by the team - with day to day management of the designers, ensuring designs are delivered on time, to specification, and in line with automotive quality standards.

Qualifications

• 7+ years' experience in automotive press tool / die design, with a proven track record across the full design lifecycle from concept to release
• Time served and/or qualified press tool / die designer with genuine weld and assembly jig design experience
• Proven experience reviewing and approving the design work of others, with the judgement to identify design risk before it reaches build
• Strong working knowledge of GD&T and its application across tool, jig and gauge design
• Proficient in CAD, with experience overseeing design work from product data through to released tool/jig design
• Experience of design for manufacture (DFM) for both tooling and jigs, and the ability to coach others in applying it
• Experience working within an automotive manufacturing environment, with a sound understanding of IATF 16949 quality management requirements as they apply to tool and jig design, process control and product launch
• Previous experience leading, mentoring, or supervising a team of designers, or a clear readiness to step into a leadership role
• Able to work from immature or ambiguous data and still deliver a sound design, while guiding the team through the same challenges
• Strong problem solver who can think on their feet and support the team in resolving design and development issues
• Clear, confident communicator capable of engaging with senior stakeholders, customers, and suppliers on design matters

Responsibilities

• Leadership and management of the design team Managing the day to day workload, priorities, and performance of the design team, allocating projects across designers, supporting their development, and ensuring the team has the capacity and capability to meet programme timing.
• Design approvals and sign off authority Reviewing and formally approving press tool, die, weld and assembly jig designs produced by the team before release, ensuring designs meet customer print, GD&T requirements, DFM principles and internal design standards prior to commitment to build.
• Press tool / stamping die and jig design oversight Remaining actively engaged in design work at a hands on level where required, particularly on complex or high risk projects, while overseeing the broader design output of the team across press tools, dies, and weld and assembly jigs.
• Supporting layout and concept reviews and simulation Leading or contributing to early stage layout and concept reviews, working from product data and forming simulation output (e.g. AutoForm) to shape a robust tool concept before detailed design begins, and ensuring feasibility concerns are raised and addressed early.
• Design buy offs and development loop ownership Owning the design side buy off process against customer print and internal standards, and directing the team's response to the tool and jig development loop - reviewing trial results, diagnosing design related issues, and ensuring corrected design data is issued in a timely manner.
• Project and design timing ownership Owning design timing across assigned projects, tracking milestones for concept, detailed design, release and post trial correction, identifying slippage early, and reporting design progress clearly to project stakeholders.
• Standards, process, and continuous improvement Driving consistency and best practice across the design team - maintaining design standards, templates and ways of working, and identifying opportunities to improve design quality, right first time rates, and the efficiency of the design to build process.
• Implementing design changes arising from trials, spotting and development Directing the team's translation of findings from press trials, spotting sessions and ongoing development work into specific design changes, ensuring CAD data and drawings are updated accordingly and revisions are clearly communicated to the toolroom or supplier.