Prototype Workshop Lead

Purpose :

The Prototype Workshop Lead is a senior technical expert and team coordinator responsible for guiding the development and refinement of prototypes, accelerating the product development process while ensuring the highest standards of quality and performance. This role involves rigorous testing and validation to identify and address potential issues before full-scale production. Additionally, the leader is responsible for streamlining the prototyping process to reduce time and costs and providing strategic direction and leadership to foster a culture of innovation, agility, and continuous improvement within the team.

Role&Responsibilities :

• Prototype Development :

o Oversee the end-to-end development of prototypes, from initial concept to functional models, ensuring alignment with product design and engineering requirements.

o Use internal tools (e.g. 3D printing, laser cutting and the available workshop machines) or outsource the manufacturing to rapidly produce and iterate on prototype components.

o Enable fast turnaround cycles for design testing and validation, allowing engineering teams to quickly assess feasibility, functionality, and ergonomics of new concepts.

o Maintain detailed records of prototype and tooling versions, test results, and design changes to support continuous improvement and knowledge sharing across teams.

o Define and uphold rigorous quality benchmarks for all prototypes, ensuring alignment with industry regulations and internal engineering specifications across railway, marine, and automotive sectors.

o Design and oversee comprehensive testing procedures—including functional, mechanical, electrical, environmental, and safety tests—to validate prototype performance under real-world conditions.

o Provide feedback on test results to detect performance gaps, material weaknesses, or design inconsistencies, and collaborate with engineering teams to implement corrective actions.

o Ensure all testing activities, results, and modifications are thoroughly documented to support traceability, certification processes, and continuous improvement.

o Foster a quality-first mindset within the prototyping team, encouraging proactive problem-solving, attention to detail, and accountability at every stage of development.

o Act as the primary technical interface for the prototype workshop with Mechanical Design, Electrical Design, BMS R&D, Functional Safety, Technical Leaders, Manufacturing, and Quality teams.

o Promote a collaborative environment that supports rapid feedback loops and iterative improvements, allowing teams to respond quickly and timely to design changes and technical challenges.

o Organize and lead prototype review sessions, hands-on workshops, and design validation meetings to foster engagement and collective problem-solving.

o Maintain clear records of feedback and lessons learned to support continuous improvement and knowledge transfer across teams and future projects.

o Analyse and refine internal processes to eliminate bottlenecks, reduce lead times, and improve throughput across design, fabrication, and testing stages.

o Apply lean manufacturing principles to minimize waste, improve resource use, and enhance overall operational efficiency within the prototyping lab.

o Monitor material usage, tooling expenses, and labour allocation to maintain cost-effective operations without sacrificing innovation or performance.

o Provide day-to-day leadership, mentorship, and technical guidance to prototype technicians and engineers, fostering a high-performance, collaborative, and innovative team culture.

o Champion a mindset of continuous learning and process enhancement by encouraging experimentation, post-project reviews, and the adoption of best practices.

o Oversee the planning and allocation of lab resources—including personnel, equipment, and budget—to ensure optimal support for current and future development programs.

o Responsible for performing other duties as assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Skills & Experiences :