Lead Product & Application Engineer – Automotive Full Time

Salary: Up to £47,000 per annum (DOE)

Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time

Working Hours: 44 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Benefits: 23 days holiday + bank holidays, birthday off, enhanced family policies, pension, wellness programme, EAP, death in service

ISQ Recruitment is working on behalf of a well-established manufacturing business within the vehicle bodybuilding and specialist engineering sector, seeking a Lead Product & Application Engineer to join their team in Manchester.

This is a senior, hands-on engineering leadership role, offering the opportunity to take full ownership of product and application engineering within a fast-paced manufacturing environment. You will play a key role in shaping engineering standards, supporting commercial activity, and ensuring all technical outputs are accurate, compliant, and aligned with business objectives.

We are keen to speak with experienced Product or Application Engineers who have strong leadership capability and a background in manufacturing or vehicle bodybuilding. If you thrive in a role where you can influence processes, drive quality, and lead from the front, this could be an excellent next step in your career.

Key Responsibilities

• Produce engineering-ready specifications, part lists, and technical documentation
• Prepare accurate customer quotations aligned with engineering and commercial requirements
• Maintain supplier pricing, manage costing, and support procurement processes
• Track quotation progress and report on conversion rates
• Liaise with customers to define product specifications and requirements
• Ensure effective communication between Sales, Engineering, and Production teams
• Approve and sign off engineering documentation and build specifications
• Manage and maintain product specifications and control of product matrices
• Support continuous improvement across engineering processes and standards

Candidate Requirements

• Proven experience in a Product Engineer, Application Engineer, or similar role
• Background within manufacturing, ideally vehicle bodybuilding or similar sector
• Strong CAD skills and technical design capability
• Excellent knowledge of engineering standards, compliance, and regulations
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to take ownership and drive decisions
• Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy and quality
• Confident communicator with the ability to liaise across teams, customers, and suppliers
• Proactive, solutions-focused mindset with a continuous improvement approach

Working Hours

44 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Benefits

• 23 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Additional day off for your birthday
• Auto-enrolment pension scheme
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
• Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 GP access
• Wellness programme support
• Death in service benefit

Apply Now

If you’re an experienced engineering professional ready to take the lead in a critical function, apply today through ISQ Recruitment and take the next step in your career.