Research & Development Manager

Job Title

Research and Development Manager

Lawson Fuses Ltd

Ponteland, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK

4418

Lawson Fuses Limited (LFL) is seeking an Engineering Manager for the R&D department at its headquarters in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. This key role will be part of LFL’s global leadership team and will manage all aspects of the stage gate process for new products from project initiation, concept design through to final design, testing, and launch. Additional responsibilities include technical support, research, and development.

The main purpose is to strategically align Lawson Fuses in the low voltage fuse gear electrical marketplace by creating product roadmaps and accelerating new product development through innovation and adopting cutting‑edge materials.

This is a fantastic opportunity for the right candidate to shape the profile, reputation, and growth of Lawson Fuses, and to develop and train a robust product development team.

Incorporated in 1938, LFL is an established British and global brand that operates in the fuse gear market with a focus on design, development and manufacture of low voltage High Rupture Capacity (HRC) fuse-links and associated fuse holders. LFL’s products are ASTA certified and comply with IEC/BS/ENA standards and are accepted worldwide. With manufacturing facilities in the UK and India, LFL’s global clientele spans the UK, Middle East, Africa, India, Malaysia, Australia, South Korea and Hong Kong.

LFL has an ISO 17025 ASTA certified R&D lab and ASTA certified manufacturing plants, underscoring its commitment to safety, quality and speed of product delivery. From 2018, LFL has been part of Lucy Group, a diversified international group headquartered in Oxford, UK.

Lawson Fuses is focusing on accelerated growth and shares of the market; the role of Product Development Manager (PDM) will directly influence the business vision.

This vacancy arises due to potential retirement of the incumbent manager.

This is a full‑time role based in our Newcastle upon Tyne plant. The role reports to the General Manager and works closely with sales and operations teams to implement product roadmap strategies. Four dimensions define the role:
1) develop and implement product roadmaps;
2) design product for manufacture and optimized cost;
3) product/lab qualification and certification;
4) technical support.

The ideal candidate is an outstanding technical leader, communicator and team player with strong project management skills, coming from electrical, mechanical, or material science background with a successful track record of product development and launch.

• Strategic product roadmap for the business – Development and Implementation
• Tactical technical execution plan for the business – Development and Implementation
• Drive product development and other technical activities in line with monthly targets
• Product verification testing in line with compliance required
• Technical support for existing product lines
• R&D lab qualification and certification in line with compliance required
• Collaboration with sales and operations teams across sites to address any compliance and/or quality issues

• Research – Identifying and researching technical market trends and gaps in collaboration with sales and marketing teams
• Researching new materials and compositions to improve products to meet cost, compliance, sustainability and customer needs
• Design – Designing the concept to meet technical, legal and commercial requirements
• Adopting design for manufacture, value engineering and design‑to‑cost concepts
• Creating intellectual property as part of fuse gear design and enabling product differentiation
• Product bills of material development, drawings office control and design change control
• Development & Testing – Product development via proven product life cycle methodologies (agile beneficial) and stage gate processes
• Working to technical standards and preparation for product qualification (BS88, BS1361, EN&IEC 60269, ENA, UL etc.)
• Type testing including internal tests (temperature rise, power…