Design Office Manager (Mechanical Engineering)

Reference: Rec000329-LL-3

We are recruiting on behalf of a well established manufacturer of mineral processing and heavy fabricated equipment supplying the mining industry locally and internationally. We are looking for an experienced design leader with a passion for innovation, product development and manufacturing excellence. The successful candidate will combine strong technical capability with proven leadership experience and a practical understanding of heavy engineering and mineral processing equipment. Duties & Responsibilities Duties and Responsibilities
Design office leadership

• Lead, plan and manage the design office, including resource planning, drawing scheduling and workload allocation
• Chair and participate in design reviews
• Set and enforce CAD standards, document control and engineering workflows
• Administer Autodesk Vault and manage revision control across the drawing office
• Drive design automation, standardisation and continuous improvement
• Coach, mentor and develop designers and draughtspersons, and manage team performance

Engineering design

• Lead the design of heavy fabricated and mineral processing equipment
• Develop plant layouts and modular plant designs
• Oversee structural steel detailing, sheet metal and platework design, and piping design and routing
• Apply sound mechanical design principles along with Design for Manufacture, Design for Assembly and Design for Maintainability
• Ensure designs align with welding and fabrication practice, machining limitations, surface treatment, assembly and quality requirements

Engineering documentation

• Prepare and review general arrangement, detail, assembly and manufacturing drawings
• Compile and review plant layouts, bills of materials, mechanical equipment lists, drawing registers, technical datasheets and manufacturing data packs
• Support Factory Acceptance Testing and resolve design queries raised on the workshop floor

Collaboration and stakeholder management

• Work across engineering, production, projects and procurement to align design output with manufacturing capability and project timelines
• Manage internal and external stakeholders, including clients and suppliers
• Travel to manufacturing facilities and project sites as required

Experience and Qualifications

• B.Eng., B.Tech. or National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent
• Minimum 8 to 10 years' mechanical design experience within mining, mineral processing, heavy engineering or industrial manufacturing
• Minimum 3 to 5 years' experience leading a design office, engineering design team or drawing office
• Advanced proficiency in Autodesk Inventor Professional, Autodesk Vault Professional, AutoCAD and the Microsoft Office suite
• Strong understanding of workshop fabrication processes, platework and structural fabrication, welding processes, machining limitations, surface treatment and painting, assembly practice, quality control and Factory Acceptance Testing
• Proven technical leadership, coaching and mentoring, and performance management ability
• Strong communication, planning and organising, decision making, problem solving and conflict resolution skills
• Valid driver's licence and willing to travel