Full job descriptionProduction Manager required for a well-established Northamptonshire based company supplying special purpose test equipment to customers worldwide. Products are trusted by manufacturers, brands and commercial test houses across more than 80 countries.
The Production Manager will be expected to take the company’s flagship range into its next generation and will suit someone who brings contemporary engineering knowledge, genuine commercial curiosity, and the presence to lead an experienced team with confidence and fresh thinking.
The successful job holder will work alongside a talented, tenured design team and complement their deep experience with up-to-date knowledge in areas like IoT connectivity, EU regulatory change, modern sourcing, and cost-competitive product architecture. You won’t need to know everything; you’ll need to ask the right questions and create the right conditions.
What you’ll lead:
• End-to-end production & delivery
• Mechanical, electrical & firmware design support
• Calibration, commissioning & global service
• Buying, warehousing & fulfilment
• Continuous improvement & quality
About the role:
Where you’ll add value
• Product development & modernisation
• IoT / machine connectivity integration
• EU/UKCA regulatory readiness
• Asia-aware cost strategy
• Aftermarket & service innovation
The Production Manager will be responsible for the end-to-end coordination of production activities. This role will oversee operational delivery across buying, design, production, warehousing and quality, ensuring customer commitments are met on time, to expected quality levels, and within margin expectations.
This is a hands-on leadership role requiring a strong engineering background, sound production experience, and growing commercial awareness.
About you:
You will need a solid grounding in mechanical and/or electrical engineering. You understand how modern connected products are built, how supply chains work east-to-west, and how regulatory frameworks such as the EU Machinery Regulation are reshaping product design right now.
You are the kind of person who earns respect in a room of experienced engineers, not by outranking them, but by bringing something they genuinely need. You’re curious, clear-headed, and energised by the idea of making something tangible and excellent.
Strong background in:
• Production or engineering management
• Mechanical & electrical product knowledge
• IoT, connectivity or smart systems
• Overseas component sourcing
• CE / UKCA compliance processes
You’ll thrive if you:
• Lead by listening, then acting
• Balance detail with the bigger picture
• Stay calm when priorities shift
• Challenge process, respect expertise
• Want to grow into senior leadership
Further information and a copy of the full job description is available on application.