Technical Manager

Job Title: Technical Manager
Location: Peterlee
Salary: £70k - £80k per annum DOE
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
ABT is entering a major growth phase, delivering multiple new OEM programmes through a structured NPI process. We are seeking an experienced Technical Manager to lead and develop our multi-discipline engineering department.
Working within the Senior Management Team and reporting directly to the CEO, you will play a pivotal role in translating strategy into execution. You will manage and mentor a team of 10 engineers (covering firmware, design, test, and apprentices), ensuring alignment across functions and driving excellence in product development.
We are looking for a proactive and visionary leader with a strong background in engineering management and a track record of delivering complex projects in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. The successful candidate will bring a structured approach, excellent technical and leadership skills, and the ability to foster collaboration across departments.
Your mission will be to establish a library of reusable firmware, test, and design modules to accelerate delivery, embed best practice within the NPI process, and champion continuous improvement. You will be a strategic thinker and effective communicator who can balance hands-on technical understanding with the leadership required to scale a high-performing engineering team.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
The below list is not exhaustive, but the main duties and responsibilities will be:

• Lead and develop a team of firmware engineers, design engineers, test engineers, and apprentices.
  
• Deliver NPI projects on time, in scope, and to Tier-1 quality standards.
  
• Establish and maintain reusable design, test, and firmware modules to streamline future programmes.
  
• Drive process maturity in DFMEA, PFMEA, control plans, and traceability through IFS.
  
• Partner with NPI Project Managers to align resources, budgets, and milestones.
  
• Ensure technical governance across disciplines (firmware, hardware, design, test).
  
• Represent engineering on the Senior Management Team, influencing company strategy.
  
• Embed structured planning, problem solving, and root-cause analysis across the department.
  
• Maintain compliance with relevant standards (IEC 62619, UN38.3, UL, ISO 9001/13485).
  
• Champion ABT's 4Ts: Transparency, Traceability, Test = Trust.
  Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours:
  The successful candidate will demonstrate a combination of the following:
  
• Proven leadership of multi-disciplinary engineering teams.
  
• Track record of delivering complex products through structured NPI processes.
  
• Strong planning, organisational, and problem-solving skills.
  
• Experience with tools such as Altium and LabVIEW, or proven ability to manage teams using them.
  
• Clear communication skills with ability to work closely with senior executives.
  
• Knowledge of regulated industries (industrial, medical, aerospace, robotics, e-mobility) desirable.
  
• Degree (or equivalent) in engineering, electronics, or related discipline..
  What we offer:
  
• Senior leadership position with strategic influence.
  
• Opportunity to shape ABT's engineering capability and deliver high-impact OEM projects.
  
• Competitive package including bonus, pension, and career development opportunities.
  
• Work on programmes where reliability, compliance, and performance are critical.
  Additional Notes
  Please note that we kindly ask recruitment agencies to refrain from contacting us regarding this vacancy. Any unsolicited CVs submitted will be considered a free-of-charge submission, and no agency fees will apply.
  Candidates with the experience or relevant job titles of; Technical Manager, Engineering Manager, Development Manager, Software Engineering Manager, Infrastructure Manager, Product Development Manager, R&D Manager, Director of Technology, Systems Manager, Technical Program Manager, Lead Engineer, Solutions Architect Manager, Data Science Manager, Cloud Engineering Manager, Security Manager, Technical Services Manager, Technical Operations Manager, Technical Team Lead. will also be considered for this role