Job Title

Design Manager Location: Aylmer Salary: CAD $125,000 $150,000 + Benefits + RRSP Matching Lead the Future of Design Our client, a well-established organization in the automotive manufacturing and industrial solutions sector, is seeking an experienced Design Manager to lead and strengthen their Design function. This is a high-impact leadership role for someone who excels at managing teams, improving processes, driving accountability, and ensuring consistent design throughput. This opportunity is ideal for a candidate who is more focused on leadership, team development, and operational performance rather than being heavily hands-on in day-to-day design execution. You will lead a growing design organization responsible for delivering custom manufacturing and packaging solutions to customers across automotive, industrial, and related sectors. Key Responsibilities Leadership & Team Management Lead a team of 46 Design Team Leads, along with the Design Coordinator Drive team performance through coaching, mentoring, accountability, and development planning Conduct one-on-ones, performance reviews, succession planning, and capability building Balance workloads and priorities across multiple customer accounts and active projects Operational Excellence Own design throughput and speed-to-market for all deliverables Identify and remove bottlenecks through workflow improvements, better prioritization, and stronger team structure Improve collaboration between Design, Production, Purchasing, Estimating, Quality, and Project teams Ensure smooth handoffs from concept through production release Process & Systems Leadership Standardize design operations including CAD/PDM governance, revision control, BOM accuracy, and release readiness Improve processes through templates, stage gates, libraries, automation, and best practices Lead adoption of digital tools and AI-enabled workflow improvements Customer & Business Support Participate in customer meetings, technical reviews, and project planning discussions Translate customer requirements into clear execution plans for the design team Ensure design outputs align with timelines, budgets, and manufacturing requirements Qualifications 7+ years of progressive design experience in a manufacturing environment 2+ years of people leadership experience, formally or informally Strong leadership skills with a passion for coaching and developing teams Experience in automotive manufacturing, metal fabrication, custom equipment, packaging, racking, or similar industries preferred Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, DFM, BOMs, tolerances, and production workflows Proficiency with SolidWorks required; CATIA considered an asset Experience improving systems, processes, and operational efficiency Comfortable leading change, digital transformation, and AI adoption initiatives Degree or diploma in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design, Engineering Technology, or related field preferred Why Join Join a stable and growing organization with a strong reputation in its market Lead a critical function where your leadership directly impacts growth and customer satisfaction Opportunity to modernize systems and build a high-performing team Exposure to a diverse customer base and complex manufacturing projects Competitive compensation package Benefits and RRSP matching program Compensation CAD $125,000 $150,000 based on experience, leadership background, and qualifications. Apply Today If you are a strong people leader with manufacturing design experience and are ready to make a measurable impact, we encourage you to apply.