Joanne Wilkinson
@joannewilkinson
Engineering manager and R&D strategist driving innovation with Design Thinking, DFSS, and Agile.
United KingdomWhat I'm looking for
I’m an engineering manager and R&D strategist with 25+ years delivering high-technology products. I specialize in methodological excellence—helping teams work smarter, innovate faster, and achieve breakthrough results.
At Malvern Panalytical, I’ve led the evolution of R&D through global, forward-thinking execution. I designed and implemented a global R&D career framework with clear roles and progression, and I established separate technical and management tracks to help the right people thrive in the right roles.
I’m especially focused on R&D process optimization: I spearheaded SAFe-inspired methodology adoption across hardware and software teams using Team Topologies insights. I also unified nearly a dozen teams to streamline planning and execution while improving commitment and delivery.
I bring strong cross-functional and customer-centric leadership, from workshops to practical change. I led a global initiative to reduce IT ticket resolution time for R&D using statistical analysis to diagnose bottlenecks and bring R&D and IT teams together, and I’ve trained teams in Design Thinking through dynamic customer workshops.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
Driving the evolution of R&D with a global, forward-thinking approach—identifying, leading, and delivering high-impact projects that enhance innovation across disciplines. Passionate about optimizing processes, fostering collaboration, and accelerating breakthrough solutions in engineering and technology.
Transforming Talent & Careers: Designed and implemented a global R&D career framework, defin
Global roll out and support for Design for Six Sigma within R&D.
Defined, trained and deployed Design Thinking techniques across the company, including R&D, Product Management, Project Management and IT.
Facilitates many types of workshops, from management to technical, strategy planning to Lean tool usage.
Established and trained a growing team of facilitators, coaching them to support their tea
Defined and leading the roll out of Design for Six Sigma across the NPI (Development) group, worldwide.
Improving the efficiency of development work through coaching on subjects from planning and time management to statistical relevance of experimentation.
Experienced in Minitab.
Coaching DMAIC Lean Sigma and Design for Six Sigma methodologies and tools to Green and Black Belt levels
Worked as a Development Scientist at Malvern Panalytical in R&D, with tenure spanning 2010 through July 2014.
Worked as an Applications Technician at Malvern Instruments from 2004 to 2008.
Worked as an Applications Technician at Bohlin Instruments Ltd from 1999 to 2004.
Worked as a Development Technician at Critchley TechPro in 1999.
Worked as a Technician at Alliance Technical Products from 1995 to 1998.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
Smallpeice Enterprises
Master Black Belt, Lean Sigma
2014 - 2015
Smallpeice Enterprises
Black Belt, Lean Sigma
2013 - 2014
The Open University
Bachelor’s Degree, BSc Hons (Open)
2005 - 2009
Range of courses including Design, Maths and English Grammar.
University of the West of England
HNC, Chemistry
1996 - 1997
Availability
Location
United KingdomAuthorized to work in
Job categories
Skills
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