| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Engineering |
| Level | Manager |
| Reports to | Head of R&D |
| Direct reports | R&D Engineer, Design Engineer, Test Technician |
| Experience | 6 to 10 years in R&D or product development |
R&D Manager job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: R&D Manager
Department: Engineering
Reports to: Head of R&D
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
An R&D Manager runs research and development projects day to day. They plan experiments and prototypes, manage a team of engineers, and drive projects through design, build and test to meet performance, cost and timeline targets. The role reports to the Head of R&D and turns roadmap items into proven designs. A good R&D Manager keeps test data clean, controls project scope and moves work reliably toward production handover.
Key responsibilities
- Plan and run assigned R&D projects, breaking each into design, build and test tasks.
- Lead prototype design and build, and set up test plans that prove the design.
- Manage a team of R&D and design engineers, assigning work and clearing blockers.
- Analyse test data, decide design changes and iterate until targets are met.
- Control project scope, timeline and material spend within the approved plan.
- Record inventions and results so intellectual property is protected.
- Work with manufacturing to check that designs can be produced at cost.
- Report project status, risks and results at stage gate reviews.
- Maintain lab equipment, calibration records and safe working practices.
Requirements
- Bachelor's or master's degree in engineering
- Experience in product development and testing
- Knowledge of design for manufacturing is an advantage
- 6 to 10 years in R&D or product development
KRAs and KPIs for a R&D Manager
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Project delivery | Assigned R&D projects reach their gate on schedule |
| Test integrity | Every design decision backed by recorded, repeatable test data |
| Cost targets | Prototypes meet the target material cost at design freeze |
| IP capture | All inventions recorded before any external disclosure |
| Scope control | Project scope changes logged and approved, not absorbed silently |
| Lab readiness | Test equipment calibrated and available when needed |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: 3D CAD, Simulation and FEA tools, Data acquisition systems, Statistical analysis tools, PLM or design record system.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Head of R&D, Design Engineering Manager, Product Manager
Interview questions for a R&D Manager
- How do you design a test plan that actually proves a design works?
- Walk me through iterating a prototype that failed its first test.
- How do you keep an R&D project inside scope and budget?
- How do you make sure test data is clean and repeatable?
- How do you record an invention so the company can protect it?
- How do you decide a design is ready to hand to manufacturing?
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What does an R&D Manager do?
An R&D Manager runs research and development projects day to day. They plan prototypes and tests, lead a team of engineers, analyse results, iterate designs and drive projects to their gates. They protect intellectual property and work with manufacturing on producibility. The goal is proven designs ready for production, delivered on plan.
What is the difference between an R&D Manager and a Head of R&D?
An R&D Manager runs specific projects and a team, meeting targets and gates. A Head of R&D owns the whole innovation pipeline, decides which projects to fund or stop, sets research strategy and manages the budget. The manager executes projects; the head sets direction and priorities.
What qualifications does an R&D Manager need?
An engineering degree, often with a master's, plus solid product development and testing experience. Employers value hands on prototyping, data analysis, project management and knowledge of design for manufacturing. A record of moving projects from concept to a working, testable design matters most.