Description

Accomplished Senior Engineering Leader with over 25 years of experience driving innovation across the automotive, mobility, and consumer technology sectors. Expert in scaling multi-disciplinary engineering departments, notably growing teams from inception to 60+ engineers while navigating high-pressure, rapid-growth environments. A proven innovator with a significant portfolio of granted patents, and a track record of delivering at massive industrial scale, including the design of motor platforms producing 10 million units per year.

Industry field of expertise

Languages

English
Native or bilingual

Workplace preferences

Can work on-site

Cheltenham (up to 50km), London (up to 50km), Bournemouth (up to 50km)

Fortescue Zero
Chief Engineer/Head of department - Mechanical Systems
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
November 2023 - December 2025 (2 years and 1 month)
Oxford, UK
• ● Team Leadership & Growth: Led Thermal, Structural, and Mechanical systems engineering teams focused on large-scale/high capacity batteries and energy conversion power systems for series production and technology demonstrators. Forecasted and deployed mechanical systems headcount, over doubling the team size to 40 within 12 months.
• ● Global Operations & Process Leadership: Led a Global Technical Working Group that improved operational efficiencies through enhanced knowledge management across multiple sites, mapping business and design processes. Identified skills gaps and implemented targeted learning and development plans, improving output quality.
• ● Strategic Stakeholder Management: Served as a key stakeholder, providing senior-level sign-offs at critical project gateways and milestones across all programmes; enhanced cross functional collaboration.
• ● End-to-End Design Oversight: Oversaw designs from RFI and RFQ responses through to concept demonstrators and production-ready designs, covering HV Battery Packs and power conversion systems for off-highway, heavy industry, and mobility applications, reducing time to market and enhancing product robustness.
• ● Test & Validation Management: Managed and scaled up the Mechanical Test/V&V team during the initial 12 months. Defining roles and responsibilities while growing the team by 30%.
Technical project management Mechanical Engineering Product Development Team management
Rimac Automobili/Rimac Technology
Head of Mechanical Engineering
AUTOMOBILE
February 2021 - September 2023 (2 years and 7 months)
Zagreb, Croatia
• ● Team Leadership & Development: Led, trained, and developed a high-performing team of 60 mechanical design engineers—exceeding all team targets and doubling the department size, developing our organisational structure.
• ● Training & Productivity Enhancement: Established robust training plans that ensured high value, quality, and boosted overall productivity.
• ● End-to-End Project Oversight: Directed the end-to-end technical delivery of high-performance EV components (HV Battery Packs, Motors, Transmissions, and Inverters), managing the transition from initial RFI/RFQ through to production-ready hardware.
• ● Process Ownership: Modernised the Product Development Life Cycle by integrating more rigorous reviews and prototype feedback loops (Virtual and Physical) into early-stage design, significantly reducing time-to-market for next-generation systems.
• ● Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Cooperated with other department heads to strengthen senior management team effectiveness and reported directly to the CTO/CEO.
• ● Facility Development: Delivered the early design and creation of new prototype manufacturing and assembly facilities for HV batteries and EDU systems, established strategic partners.
• ● Strategic Support & Recruitment: Selected for additional role as "Acting Head of Test," while sourcing and securing a new Head of Department, architected strategic plans for EV powertrain and battery test facilities.
Automotive Team management Technical project management PLM Process development
Rimac Technology R&D UK
Acting/Interim Operations Director
TECH
November 2022 - September 2023 (10 months)
Warwick, UK
• ● UK R&D Expansion: Secured new facilities for UK R&D allowing for expanded operations, meeting and surpassing business requirements.
• ● Financial Process Collaboration: Partnered with and improved collaboration between UK and Croatian finance teams, establishing a cross charging/billing process, reducing administrative effort.
• ● Operational Gap Resolution: Attracted top consulting talent, closed operational gaps, ensuring strict compliance with all legal guidelines.
• ● International Liaison: Facilitated and streamlined operations between Croatia HQ and the UK, on matters of R&D and HR.
• ● Budget & Compliance Management: Owed and created UK budget and compiled required company filings meeting legal obligations.
Corporate strategy Team management Technical project management Operations