Design Manager
Design
Bristol, UK
Posted on Jun 19, 2026
We’re building the UK's next generation engineering powerhouse, providing critical technology that strengthens national security and resilience.
We specialise in turning advances in sensing, AI, and communications into operational capability for the edge, where connectivity may be degraded or denied. Our work focuses on accelerating the deployment of technology, improving decision-making for frontline teams, and protecting people and critical assets in demanding environments.
Headquartered in Bristol, Rowden employs around 160 people and operates over 20,000 square feet of engineering and manufacturing facilities. We have a growing international footprint and are one of Europe’s fastest-growing engineering businesses.
The Role
We are looking for a Design Manager to lead the development and delivery of products from concept through to deployment. Working closely with customers, engineers and delivery teams, this role is responsible for defining product direction, setting priorities and ensuring successful delivery against business and user objectives.
You will own the product roadmap, translate user needs into actionable requirements, and make informed trade-off decisions across scope, schedule, cost and technical complexity. Success in this role comes from identifying the right problems to solve, aligning teams behind a clear direction, and delivering products that solve real operational challenges.
Reporting to the VP of Product, the Design Manager works alongside a Technical Lead who is responsible for technical implementation and engineering leadership. Together, they are accountable for delivering products that meet user needs, achieve business goals and create meaningful operational impact.
This role would suit someone with experience taking hardware-enabled products from concept to production, who is comfortable balancing user needs, technical constraints and commercial considerations in a fast-moving environment.
This role requires a minimum of 3 days per week on-site at our Bristol HQ.
Candidates must be eligible for SC clearance.
You will own the product roadmap, translate user needs into actionable requirements, and make informed trade-off decisions across scope, schedule, cost and technical complexity. Success in this role comes from identifying the right problems to solve, aligning teams behind a clear direction, and delivering products that solve real operational challenges.
Reporting to the VP of Product, the Design Manager works alongside a Technical Lead who is responsible for technical implementation and engineering leadership. Together, they are accountable for delivering products that meet user needs, achieve business goals and create meaningful operational impact.
This role would suit someone with experience taking hardware-enabled products from concept to production, who is comfortable balancing user needs, technical constraints and commercial considerations in a fast-moving environment.
This role requires a minimum of 3 days per week on-site at our Bristol HQ.
Candidates must be eligible for SC clearance.
More information about security clearance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels