Design Engineer

Our client based in Howden is seeking a Product Design Engineer to join their expanding team

JOB PURPOSE
The Junior Industrial Design Engineer will be working as part of the Product Team within the Joinery Category fully focused on the speedy development and delivery of all new trade quality commercial products across the company. They will also ensure the effective management of the existing product range and the delivery of innovation in products, processes and materials. The role will also eliminate the single point of expertise that currently exists within the hardware product area and aid growth through service improvements in commercial project activity
BRIEF
Reporting innovation, technical & new product development activity against targets
º Reporting supply base activity on an ongoing basis
º Reporting product opportunities on an ongoing basis
º As well as supporting the Industrial Designers in their workload

DIMENSION
º UK and foreign travel
º No budget responsibility

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES
º Meeting with suppliers to develop product and build global supply base (50+ suppliers) knowledge.
º Maximise commercial benefit through timely new product introduction
º Undertake professional development and improve product knowledge
º Understand and speak with authority on the design, development and manufacturing techniques for all products within your product categories
º Improve the level of engagement and proactive manner in which suppliers develop product to feed our trade market
º Make recommendations to the Technical Design Manager which support the growth of Howdens
º Ensure personal objectives are achieved and surpassed
º Working on multiple projects (30+) of various values across different produt types
º Work to ensure products remain compliant with changes to legislations and are in line with product standards where applicable
º Gather, validate, produce and circulate technical documentation
º Coordinate change management activity for the category
º Answer technical product queries
º Develop standard operating procedures for product development to improve speed to market without compromising product performance and quality (SOPs)
º Research opportunities around technology, materials and product to support innovation and new product activity
º Organize product requirements with the Project Coordinator to support photography, display and test/assessment requirements.
º Provide information and aid in the creation of commercial product displays working with the display build teams
º Support the delivery of commercial activities and targets through close working with the Sourcing team

WORK EXAMPLES
Working alongside the Industrial designers on the delivery of certain project elements e.g.
o Technical specifications
o Product sampling – displays, photography, testing, tagging etc
o Researching competitor product offer
o Supplier intelligence and market data gathering
º Working with world class suppliers to deliver highly commercial products to extremely challenging deadlines
º Working with the Marketing team to support new product development and Sales team meeting requirements
º International and UK travel as required.

PLANNING & ORGANISING

º Effectively managing large numbers of activities that aid the delivery of the product development projects, delivering them all on time in full prioritizing and escalating where required.

º Implementing processes to aid the speedy delivery of projects avoiding unnecessary bureaucracy
º Delivering the many tight deadlines that occur throughout the year relating to the many product events in the Howdens calendar.

DECISION MAKING

? Examples of typical decisions they make or are involved in

? The nature of the role in these decisions eg it is advisory or directly responsible
? The contribution made by other people

? What guidelines are in place to support the decision making, eg policies/procedures/protocols/legislation?

º Making decisions on product detail, design and construction, in line with the requirements of the business. Supported by information from the supply base, and a commercial understanding of available techniques, materials and processes.
º Arranging the timely production of prototype samples for review and sign-off
º Supplier identification (working closely with commercial and Industrial Design colleagues).
º Making proposals on product opportunities, both short and medium term that may inform the product development agenda.
º Using your knowledge and available supplier intelligence to ensure the flow of product into the depots is commercial and achievable – Deciding when to challenge specific requests.

JOB CONTEXT
º Key policy imperatives, service priorities or objectives which significantly affect the services for which you are responsible.
a. A market leading joinery product offer
b. 100% on the shelf availability
c. Bullet proof technical and quality standards
d. Suppliers who understand the core values of the Howdens business
e. Delivering products and events on time

º How your job relates to the work of other managers, departments, customers etc. You should aim to summarise the nature and extent of the key working relationships.
a. Daily contact and communication with Commercial & Product team colleagues.
b. Strong relationships with colleagues in Future Direction, Incubator, Lab and Proto-Shop.
c. Essential relationships and regular contact with colleagues in Marketing.
d. Good working relationships with other supply functions – Planning, Quality, RTM, Finance etc.
e. Contact with external suppliers working in conjuction with the responsible Industrial Designer

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
º Preferable Degree qualified although not essential.
º Product Development / Design experience in large organisation beneficial
º Effective communicator.
º Strong problem solving skills.

RELATIONSHIPS & COMPETENCIES

º Works as part of a team and understands contribution the team makes
º Understands how their own role contributes to the overall business
º Understands and demonstrates the core values
º Is aware of the commercial and financial implications of actions
º Acts within the limits of authority and seeks guidance when needed
º Keeps up to date with commercial developments within the industry
º Positively and constructively challenges established methods

º Understands the need and value of building effective working relationships and demonstrate commitment to this
º Pulls together with colleagues in difficult situations
º Openly voices concerns in order to overcome barriers

º Manages and plans own workload with direction and within narrow timeframes
º Identifies the information required for a decision and know where to obtain it
º Knows when to ask for help from others when making a decision
º Recognises problems within and outside their remit
º Follows guidelines to identify issues and has good attention to detail
º Confident in making decisions within policy guidelines
º Evaluates data before making an informed decision in order to minimise errors

£27,600 pa