Subsea Tooling Manager

Newcastle upon Tyne

2 months ago

Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Transducer Engineer

Test and Commissioning Engineer

Software Engineer - Robotics

Senior Production Process Engineer

Subsea Tooling Manager
Location: Aberdeen, Newcastle or North Yorkshire
Role Purpose
The Subsea Tooling Manager is responsible for the technical, commercial, and strategic management of a global subsea tooling portfolio. The role ensures tooling solutions are engineered, delivered, and cost-managed to meet project requirements safely, efficiently, and reliably, while driving performance, profitability, and market growth.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Leadership

Lead the design, development, selection, and integration of subsea tooling, including pipeline PIG launch and recovery systems and subsea connectors.
Provide technical leadership to tooling engineers, ensuring compliance with industry standards and best practices.
Ensure tooling designs are maintained, certified, and compliant with regulatory and quality requirements.
Support projects through technical reviews, feasibility assessments, and operational troubleshooting.
Drive continuous improvement in tooling performance, reliability, and innovation.
Commercial & Strategic Management
Own the commercial strategy for subsea tooling, including budgeting, pricing, and cost control.
Support sales enquiries and prepare technical and commercial proposals in response to RFQs.
Manage vendor relationships, procurement strategies, and contract negotiations.
Optimise tooling inventory and lifecycle management to reduce cost and lead times.
Identify market trends, emerging technologies, and growth opportunities.
Develop and deliver short-term revenue improvement plans and a 3–5 year strategic roadmap, including funded new product development.
Support marketing activities, customer engagement, and industry exhibitions.
Project, Operational, HSE & Quality
Coordinate with internal teams to ensure tooling is delivered to customer expectations.
Ensure timely resolution of equipment and operational issues.
Champion a strong HSE culture and ensure compliance with safety, legislative, and quality systems.
Participate in audits, incident investigations, and continuous improvement activities.
Key Competencies
Strong technical expertise in subsea tooling and ROV-related systems.
Proven commercial and financial management capability.
Leadership, strategic planning, and execution skills.
Strong organisational, communication, and problem-solving abilities.
Commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
Qualifications & Experience
Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Marine Engineering, Robotics, or related discipline.
Chartered Engineer status desirable.
7+ years’ experience in subsea tooling, ROV operations, or subsea engineering.
Proven experience in design-and-build environments and technical team management.
Strong knowledge of offshore energy industry standards (API, ISO, IMCA).
Work Environment
Office-based with regular travel to operational teams, customers, and exhibitions in the UK and overseas

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

Feb 12, 2026

Careers

How Many Robotics Tools Do You Need to Know to Get a Robotics Job?

If you’re pursuing a career in robotics, it can feel like the list of tools you should learn never ends. One job advert asks for ROS, another mentions Gazebo, another wants experience with Python, Linux, C++, RobotStudio, MATLAB/Simulink, perception stacks, control frameworks, real-time OS, vision libraries — and that’s just scratching the surface. With so many frameworks, languages and platforms, it’s no wonder robotics job seekers feel overwhelmed. But here’s the honest truth most recruiters won’t say explicitly: 👉 They don’t hire you because you know every tool — they hire you because you can apply the right tools to solve real robotics problems reliably and explain your reasoning clearly. Tools matter — but only in service of outcomes. So the real question isn’t how many tools you should know, but which tools you should master and why. For most robotics roles, the answer is significantly fewer — and far more focused — than you might assume. This article breaks down what employers really expect, which tools are core, which are role-specific, and how to focus your learning so you look capable, confident, and ready to contribute from day one.

Feb 3, 2026

Jobs

What Hiring Managers Look for First in Robotics Job Applications (UK Guide)

Robotics is one of the most dynamic, interdisciplinary fields in technology — blending mechanical systems, embedded software, controls, perception (AI/vision), modelling, simulation and systems integration. Hiring managers in this space are highly selective because robotics teams need people who can solve real-world problems under constraints, work across disciplines, and deliver safe, reliable systems. And here’s the reality: hiring managers do not read every word of your CV. Like in many tech domains, they scan quickly — often forming a judgement in the first 10–20 seconds. In robotics, those first signals are especially important because the work is complex and there’s a wide range of candidate backgrounds. This guide unpacks exactly what hiring managers look for first in robotics applications and how to optimise your CV, portfolio and cover letter so you stand out in the UK market.

Jan 24, 2026

Education

The Skills Gap in Robotics Jobs: What Universities Aren’t Teaching

Robotics is no longer confined to science fiction or isolated research labs. Today, robots perform critical tasks across manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, agriculture, defence, hospitality and even education. In the UK, businesses are embracing automation to improve productivity, reduce costs and tackle labour shortages. Yet despite strong interest and a growing number of university programmes in robotics, many employers report a persistent problem: graduates are not job-ready for real-world robotics roles. This is not a question of intelligence or dedication. It is a widening skills gap between what universities teach and what employers actually need in robotics jobs. In this article, we’ll explore that gap in depth — what universities do well, where their programmes often fall short, why the disconnect exists, what employers really want, and how you can bridge the divide to build a thriving career in robotics.