Product Inspection Manager

Manager – Product Inspection 📍 Location: Gillingham, Kent, UK 💼 Permanent | Competitive Salary + Benefits | Automotive & Precision Engineering

A global engineering business at the forefront of fuel and powertrain innovation is seeking an experienced Product Inspection Manager to lead a team of highly skilled engineers and technicians at its advanced R&D and manufacturing facility in Kent. This is a senior-level opportunity ideal for a hands-on technical leader with strong metrology and team management experience, ideally from the automotive or high-precision engineering sectors.

The company designs and manufactures advanced fluid and electrical systems used in industrial machinery, internal combustion engines, and transport applications — all with a focus on sustainable, low-emission performance. With a presence across more than 40 global sites, this employer offers exciting long-term career development and opportunities to contribute to cutting-edge technology development.

The Role:
As Product Inspection Manager, you will lead a multidisciplinary team responsible for dimensional, surface, and visual inspection activities supporting new product development and validation processes. This includes oversight of lab operations, measurement methods, calibration planning, technical reporting, and strategic resource planning to meet engineering programme milestones.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead, coach, and develop a team of inspection and metrology engineers and technicians.
Define inspection priorities and resolve resource conflicts to meet business objectives.
Drive continuous improvement in processes, capability, and equipment utilisation.
Manage the lab environment and ensure calibration, traceability, and compliance with EH&S and quality standards (e.g. IATF 16949).
Oversee planning and delivery of inspection activities for engineering samples (pre- and post-validation).
Develop KPIs to monitor performance and support financial and departmental targets.
Support internal stakeholders and liaise with suppliers, customers, and global peers on inspection-related matters.
Conduct internal training on metrology methods and advanced measurement tools.
Maintain high-quality documentation and communicate technical insights clearly.
Represent the business at customer and supplier visits as required. Candidate Profile:

Degree-qualified in an engineering discipline (mechanical, manufacturing, or similar).
Postgraduate qualification in metrology or precision engineering is highly desirable.
7+ years' experience in an automotive, aerospace, or high-precision engineering environment.
Strong working knowledge of dimensional metrology, surface finish analysis, and GD&T.
Hands-on experience with advanced metrology tools: contact/optical 3D systems, visual inspection platforms, and surface finish instruments (e.g. Zygo, Alicona, Taylor Hobson).
Familiarity with automated measurement programmes and data processing using Matlab, Python or VBA.
Proven ability to lead small technical teams and manage multiple parallel projects.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills with experience presenting to internal and external stakeholders.
Experience managing lab environments and delivering cross-functional project support.
Willingness to travel occasionally to suppliers, customers, or other international sites. What’s on Offer
A competitive and comprehensive benefits package is available, including:

Annual Leave – 27 days holiday per year plus UK bank holidays, with additional entitlement for long service
Pension Scheme – Competitive employer-contributed pension plan
Healthcare – Private medical and dental cover, plus life insurance
Flexible Working – 37-hour week with flexible start and finish times
Relocation Support – Generous relocation assistance available (up to £6,000, subject to eligibility)
On-Site Facilities – Free parking, subsidised staff canteen, and access to an on-site gym for just £10/month
Discounts & Perks – Staff discounts across a wide range of retailers and access to wellbeing resources
Training & Development – Strong commitment to ongoing professional development and global career progression opportunities This role offers a chance to join a forward-thinking, technically innovative environment focused on sustainability, engineering excellence, and continuous improvement