Job Description

John Crane, a company of the Smiths Group, is a global leader in critical flow control solutions for the energy and process industries, enabling efficient and sustainable operations. Our products include mechanical seals and systems, couplings, bearings, filtration systems, and predictive digital monitoring technologies.

We have a global network of more than 200 locations in over 50 countries and employ more than 6,000 people worldwide. We work alongside our customers to help them maintain safe operations, reduce downtime, improve efficiency, and meet the latest environmental standards.

John Crane is part of the Smiths Group. For over 170 years, Smiths has been pioneering progress by engineering for a better future. Each year, we help millions of people create a safer, more efficient, productive, and better-connected world across four global markets: energy, security & defence, aerospace, and general industrial. Smiths is listed on the London Stock Exchange and employs around 16,000 people in more than 50 countries.

What tasks you can expect with us:

• Professional and disciplinary leadership of an interdisciplinary innovation team in the field of filtration
• Management of the development of new filtration products and systems, from the concept phase through prototyping to handover into the new product development process
• Responsibility for structured innovation and development processes
• Technical leadership in the areas of filtration media, fluid mechanics, pressure systems, material selection, and system design
• Planning, monitoring, and evaluation of laboratory trials, prototype testing, and validation programs
• Ensuring robust, reproducible test results, as well as deriving actions from root-cause analyses and technical findings
• Building a strong innovation culture and continuously developing methods, processes, and laboratory standards
• Close collaboration with New Product Development, product management, production, quality, sales, and external partners
• Identification of new technologies, materials, and market trends for further development

Qualifications

What you should bring:

• A completed Bachelor’s (and ideally Master’s) degree in engineering, natural sciences, or a comparable qualification
• Several years of experience in product development, R&D, or an innovation environment, ideally in filtration, fluid technology, or similar industries
• Experience in leading and developing technical teams (minimum of 3 years)
• Strong understanding of filtration principles, fluid mechanics, pressure systems, and material science fundamentals
• Excellent analytical and conceptual skills, along with a structured approach to complex development tasks
• Experience managing multiple innovation and development projects, including prioritisation and accountability for results
• Very good English skills, both written and spoken, as well as strong communication and leadership abilities

Additional Information

What you can look forward to with us:

• Modern working environment – ergonomic workstations and up-to-date technology
• Training and development opportunities
• Attractive compensation and additional benefits – including a company pension scheme and other voluntary employer benefits
• Team culture – regular company events to strengthen collaboration and team spirit
• E-bike leasing and free e-bike charging stations on site
• 30 days of annual leave
• Employee parking and excellent access to public transport

With colleagues from all over the world, we are proud of our diversity. To promote inclusion, we run employee resource groups (ERGs) to create a safe space where employees can connect, share experiences, and support one another.