Product Development Managers

Location: Lighthorne Heath

Expleo is seeking experienced Product Development Managers to support our leading automotive customer based in Warwickshire. This is an excellent opportunity to take ownership of innovative product development initiatives, guiding cross-functional teams and shaping new technologies during a key period of maternity leave cover. Product Development Manager - Maternity Cover (Warwickshire)

Location:

Warwickshire (Onsite/Hybrid depending on project requirements)

Contract:

Maternity Cover (until next year) About the Role As a Product Development Manager , you will be responsible for leading the improvement and development of new products, components, systems, technologies, and processes. You'll manage a team of experienced professionals and oversee the full product development lifecycle - ensuring technical excellence, cost effectiveness, and timely delivery. This is a hands-on leadership role suited to an experienced R&D or Product Development professional who can drive forward short-term strategic initiatives and influence both internal teams and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities Lead product development activities for new and existing technologies, components, systems, and processes. Ensure all research, design, and development methodologies meet established scientific and engineering standards. Support the creation of business plans and development budgets, ensuring alignment with programme goals. Analyse quality and safety test results to confirm compliance with internal and external regulatory requirements. Stay up to date with latest industry developments, assessing and translating emerging technologies into viable business opportunities.

Prepare and deliver technical presentations to customers, partners, and industry bodies. Monitor progress to ensure all product development targets - technical, functional, cost, and timing - are achieved. In some cases, manage regulatory approval processes for products under development. Role Level Expectations (Manager M3) Manage a team of experienced professionals who operate with significant autonomy. Deliver short-term strategic outcomes (typically within a 12-month horizon).

Resolve difficult to moderately complex technical challenges. Influence stakeholders outside your immediate team regarding policies, practices, and procedures. About You We'd love to hear from you if you have:
Strong experience in product development or research & development, ideally within automotive or a similar engineering environment. Experience leading multidisciplinary teams. A solid understanding of engineering standards, development cycles, and regulatory requirements. Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present complex technical information. A proactive, innovative mindset with the ability to guide projects to completion under time and cost constraints.

Interested in taking on an influential and high-impact role during this maternity cover period? Please submit your CV or contact our Talent Acquisition team for more details.