Lead Product Designer

Lead Product Designer

A growing consumer products company is seeking a Lead Product Designer to take ownership of a portfolio of products within its New Product Development function. This is a senior, hands-on role responsible for leading projects from early concept through to production launch, coordinating internal specialists and external manufacturing partners.

You will act as the technical and commercial lead for your product category, balancing design quality, cost, and delivery timelines.

Key Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end delivery of multiple product development projects within a defined category

• Lead CAD development of complex assemblies from concept through to production release

• Build and test physical prototypes to validate mechanisms and concepts early

• Coordinate input from product designers, industrial designers, and pattern makers as required

• Manage product cost targets and development budgets

• Work directly with overseas manufacturing partners through sampling and production ramp-up

• Ensure products meet customer expectations, brand standards, and commercial objectives

Requirements

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Product Design, Industrial Design, or similar

• 4+ years’ experience delivering complex consumer or physical products to market

• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and supplier engagement

• Proficiency in CAD and visualisation tools (e.g. SolidWorks/Rhino, Keyshot, Adobe Suite)

• Confident communicator with the ability to influence stakeholders

• Comfortable leading projects without direct line management responsibility

What’s Offered

• Competitive salary (£40k–£50k depending on experience)

• 25 days holiday + bank holidays

• Private healthcare and pension

• Staff discount

• Office-based role with some flexibility for hybrid working (Southampton area)