Technical Manager

Our client designs, manufactures and supplies a variety of high performing technical textiles for a range of high performance markets. The company supplies advanced materials to industries such as Aerospace, Military, Medical, Composites and Automotive. Clients from these various industries have trusted their fabrics to help them manufacture their products for several years.

They are now seeking a a senior technical leader to head their Quality & Technical department who will lead the company’s technical capability, ensuring that products, processes, systems, and customer requirements are managed to the highest possible standard. The role will combine strategic leadership with practical technical expertise, supporting the business from concept and product development through to bulk production and ongoing customer supply.

Technical Manager - The Role:

• Research and development, including new materials, constructions, processes, and customer-led innovation.
• Quality management across incoming materials, in-process controls, finished product standards, and customer specifications.
• Business support for sales, including technical input for customer enquiries, tenders, specifications, trials, and problem solving.
• Technical leadership across purchasing, sourcing, yarn selection, fabric construction, and supplier capability.
• Operational technical support for warp knitting, weft knitting, and associated textile manufacturing processes.
• Where relevant, technical understanding of dyeing, finishing, coating, lamination, or other downstream processes.
• Ownership and continual improvement of quality and environmental standards.
• Lead, develop, and motivate a small but dedicated Quality & Technical team.
• Build a culture of high standards, accountability, continuous improvement, practical problem solving, a right-first-time mindset, and a positive can-do approach across all site and operations.
• Manage product development projects from initial concept through sampling, testing, approval, and transition into bulk production.
• Act as technical lead for customer audits, supplier audits, external assessments, and technical reviews.
• Ensure product and process controls meet customer, regulatory, environmental, and internal business requirements.
• Develop the department’s capability through coaching, training, succession planning, and clear performance expectations.

Technical Manager - The Candidate: 

• Proven textile technical leadership experience, ideally in knitted fabrics or technical textile manufacturing.
• Ability to lead quality, R&D, product development, and technical support functions within one integrated role.
• Strong experience progressing products from concept and trials into controlled bulk production.
• Credibility with customers during audits, technical reviews, complaints, and product development discussions.
• Evidence of team building, coaching, and improving standards within a small technical department.
• Clear commitment to developing robust quality and environmental systems that support business growth.
• Relevant qualification in textile technology, engineering, chemistry, quality management, or a related discipline.
• Auditor training or experience, such as internal auditor, lead auditor, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, or customer-specific audit schemes trained would be beneficial.
• Senior technical, quality, product development, or manufacturing experience within textiles or a closely related technical manufacturing environment.
• Strong practical understanding of warp knitting and/or weft knitting, ideally supported by experience in yarn selection, fabric performance, and production constraints.
• Experience of taking products from development stage through to reliable bulk production.
• Knowledge of dyeing, finishing, coating, lamination, or related finishing operations would be advantageous.
• Experience managing quality systems, specifications, product testing, corrective action, and customer technical requirements.
• Involvement in external customer audits, certification audits, supplier reviews, or formal technical assessments.
• Experience supporting commercial teams with technical input, customer-facing discussions, and product problem solving.
• Confident, visible, and credible leader with the ability to set standards and bring people with them.
• Practical and hands-on approach, balanced with the ability to think strategically and improve systems.
• Strong communicator who can engage effectively with production teams, senior management, sales, suppliers, and customers.
• Calm and methodical under pressure, particularly during audits, complaints, trials, and urgent customer issues.
• Commercially aware, with an understanding of how technical decisions affect cost, lead time, quality, customer service, and business reputation.
• Committed to building the company’s quality and environmental standards to the highest level possible.
• Project management training or demonstrable experience managing complex technical projects.
• Health, safety, environmental, or sustainability-related training would be beneficial.

Technical Manager - The Package:

• Competitive salary & benefits DOE
• Great opportunity for career progression within a short time period

Please note that due to the anticipated interest in these roles only short listed

candidates will be contacted

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