Job Advert
Lead Product/Application Engineer
Trafford Park, Manchester
up to £47,000 pa, DOE
- 44 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Your Role
We are looking for an experienced Product Engineer / Application Engineer to lead this critical area of our established bodybuilding manufacturing facility. This role requires a confident and credible engineering professional who will take full ownership of product engineering and application activity, setting standards, providing direction and ensuring consistent, compliant delivery across the function.
You will play a central leadership role in supporting the sales team by creating accurate, well‑planned and commercially sound engineering solutions, including detailed specifications, project plans and customer quotations. You will be accountable for ensuring all designs, documentation and proposals meet regulatory requirements, technical standards and internal governance.
As the key link between Sales, Engineering, Production and our supplier network, you will ensure information flows effectively, risks are identified early, and work is planned correctly from the outset. This role carries responsibility and accountability, requiring strong leadership, decisiveness, attention to detail and the ability to drive continuous improvement, consistency and quality within an established manufacturing environment.
Required skills and behaviours
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Proven experience in a Product Engineer, Application Engineer or similar role within a manufacturing or vehicle bodybuilding environment
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Strong leadership capability, with the confidence to take ownership, set direction and be accountable for decisions and outputs
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Strong knowledge of relevant engineering standards, regulations and compliance requirements, with a rigorous and methodical approach to ensuring them
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Strong CAD expertise
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Ability to create accurate engineering plans, specifications and quotations, balancing technical requirements with commercial awareness
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Highly organised, with strong planning skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment
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Excellent attention to detail, ensuring accuracy, traceability and compliance across all documentation and processes
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Clear and effective communicator, able to work collaboratively across departments and confidently engage with customers and suppliers
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Proactive and solutions‑focused, with the willingness to challenge existing practices and drive continuous improvement
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Strong sense of accountability, professionalism and integrity, leading by example within an established team
Key Responsibilities:
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Produce engineering-ready part lists and specifications.
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Maintain supplier quotes and manage supplier costing.
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Create order acknowledgements and documentation ready for customer issue.
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Track quote status and report on customer conversions.
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Liaise with customers regarding product specifications and requirements.
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Ensure clear, accurate communication between Sales and Engineering.
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Sign off build documentation and engineering specifications.
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Manage product specifications within the Engineering function.
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Maintain control of the product matrix and high-value parts lists.
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Prepare and complete sales quotes for customers and the sales team.
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Carry out any other duties within your capability to support the team.
Research shows that some people are less likely to apply for a role unless they meet 100% of the criteria. As long as you are experienced for the role, and hold the relevant and required qualifications, we encourage you to apply, even if you don’t feel like you meet all our requirements. We want to know about your passions, achievements, learning and growth. If this role excites you, start a conversation with us!
Benefits for you
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23 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays
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A day off for your Birthday.
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Auto-enrolment pension.
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Enhanced Maternity and Paternity policies.
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Access to our wellness programme and Employee Assistance Programmes, including WeCare from Canada Life (EAP with 24HR Online GP access and second Medical Opinion).
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Death in service benefit.
Our Values & Behaviours
We’re looking for incredible team members who share our values and can add to our culture. Values are shared beliefs that guide our decision-making, culture is how we function as a group and how we live our values as individuals.
Rewarding
I am grateful. I am courageous. I am curious.
Reliable
I am honest. I am attentive. I am trustworthy.
Respectful
I am inclusive. I am resilient. I am kind.
About Coolfreeze
Coolfreeze is an industry renowned bodybuilding (coachbuilders) company, with one site in Manchester and a second in Wiltshire. Our team are experts in their field and work to deliver exceptional customer service. So, whether our customers are needing a panel van or a 26-ton truck body, they can rely on our experience and knowledge to help them design the perfect vehicle. Our enduring success is built on a sound customer base who continue to use our services year after year, safe in the knowledge that we will meet their expectation. We have an incredible team of experts at Coolfreeze, with many achieving significant lengths of service with us, which is something we are really proud of. The longevity of our staff is a major contribution to our success and their input into our ISO 9001:2008 quality control system is an integral part of our high standards. Coolfreeze is a well-known and respected name in the industry and also has the resilience and high standing of owners, Rygor Group, behind it.
✅ Hiring Process
- We shortlist CVs through our ATS against the requirements of the role and desired skills and behaviours, so make sure your application is tailored to the role you are applying for. For help with your application visit Rygorcareers.co.uk - Rygor Careers Hub
- We may conduct a first stage virtual interview with our hiring manager or a member of the team
- If successful at first stage you will be invited to a second stage, in person interview.
- If your application is successful, we will send you a formal offer in writing
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We wish you luck in your application
DBS: Please be advised that successful applicants to Coolfreeze or any of our associated businesses, may be subject to satisfactory completion of a DBS check prior to joining the business.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB): At Coolfreeze, we're committed to cultivating an environment that promotes diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. We are a of professionals from all walks of life, and we believe our unique qualities should be celebrated. It's essential to us that you bring your authentic self to work every single day, no matter your age, ethnicity, religion, citizenship, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, caring responsibilities, neurodiversity, or otherwise.
Support: If you need to make reasonable adjustments to our process, please let us know so we can talk about how we can best support you and make the adjustments that may be needed.
