Head of Design (m/f/d)

IRLE ROLLS is one of Europe’s longest-established roller manufacturers. At our foundry and machining facility in Netphen, we manufacture rollers for the steel, paper, plastics, and food industries, as well as pistons and wear-resistant castings. We are seeking a leader with an engineering background and an inventive spirit to join our design and product development team. The focus of the position is on the technological advancement of our rolls, as well as engineering and development projects with customers and partners. Our current Head of Design will retire in the fall of 2027, so we are seeking a successor as soon as possible.

Your Responsibilities

• Head of Design and Product Development: technical and disciplinary leadership, onboarding, performance reviews, training and professional development, reporting to senior management
• Technological advancements in our rollers and castings: new concepts, material and manufacturing solutions, and new production methods
• Development of new calender rolls and technical management of development projects with customers and partners through to production readiness
• FEM calculations and further development of in-house calculation programs
• Coordination of internal patent matters; engagement and evaluation of external experts
• Design and engineering of rollers, pistons, and wear-resistant castings according to customer specifications
• Preparation, review, and approval of manufacturing drawings and manufacturing documentation
• Feasibility and capacity assessments for customer inquiries; technical clarification with customers, sales, and production planning
• Identify bottlenecks and resolve them with plant managers, production, purchasing, and logistics; process optimization
• Maintenance of design standards, specifications, drawing management, and the CAD environment; documentation representative for CE marking
• Technical Support for Quotation Processing and Complaint Handling

Your Profile

• A degree in engineering, preferably in mechanical engineering
• Several years of experience in creating, reviewing, and approving technical drawings
• Several years of experience in development and engineering, a strong inventive spirit
• Experience with FEM calculations, spatial reasoning skills, and very strong mathematical skills
• Experience as a design manager or in a comparable leadership role
• Experience with calenders and calender rolls is a plus, but not a requirement
• Proficiency in 2D and 3D CAD, FEM software, ERP, and MS Office
• Excellent German and good English skills; willingness to travel both domestically and internationally
• Negotiation skills, assertiveness, intercultural competence, and entrepreneurial thinking

We offer

• Management position, reporting directly to senior management
• Performance-based salary, permanent position
• Foundry, machining, and laboratory all in one location; structured on-the-job training
• An owner-managed family business with quick decision-making processes