Mechanical Design Engineer

Job Title: Design Engineer, Mechanical

Contract type: Full time, 40 hours per week

Sector: Special purpose vehicle and equipment design, manufacture and delivery (UK and international operations), automotive focused

Purpose of the role: Deliver innovative, cost effective mechanical designs using 3D CAD to a high standard and within agreed timescales.

About the business: Our client is part of a wider group of engineering companies designing, manufacturing and delivering special purpose machines and equipment across the UK and overseas. The environment is collaborative and hands on, with an expectation that employees stay flexible and pitch in on tasks across the team.

Key Responsibilities

• Produce mechanical designs with a strong focus on functionality, simplicity and economy
• Apply a solid grounding in mechanical and automotive engineering principles to develop designs efficiently, minimising rework through repeated design, analysis and prototype cycles
• Build 3D CAD models and drawings (SolidWorks) to defined specifications and standards, within allotted timescales
• Design components and assemblies across automotive and other sectors, from concept through to production, covering sheet metal, machined and turned parts, castings, and small to large fabrications, with manufacturing and through life support in mind
• Maintain accurate design records and drawing issue control, using a PDM system to manage and release drawings
• Revise and update existing designs as requirements change
• Collaborate with senior and project engineers and wider team members to reach the best design outcomes
• Liaise directly with suppliers to source new components
• Assess prototypes for fit and function, and carry out material selection against component specifications
• Support strength assessments through hand calculations, feeding into CAE work where relevant
• Prepare for and attend design reviews, incorporating feedback into ongoing design work

Other Responsibilities

• Report writing and project documentation
• Vehicle testing using data logging and instrumentation
• Ongoing training as required for the role, and general adherence to company policy on quality, health and safety, security, IT and GDPR

Person Specification

Essential

• 3D CAD skills, ideally SolidWorks (training available for the right candidate)
• Demonstrated ability to produce detailed 3D models and accurate engineering drawings for components and assemblies
• Practical engineering knowledge across automotive systems
• Confident user of Microsoft Office and able to adapt to new software with minimal support
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including with suppliers and customers
• Sound report writing and project documentation skills
• Minimum HNC in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering or a related discipline
• Evidence of ongoing CPD

Desirable

• Experience with drawing issue control via a PDM system
• Structural analysis experience, first principles and FEA (ANSYS)
• Vehicle testing experience using data logging and instrumentation
• Presentation skills
• Mechanical Engineering degree
• Prior experience in an engineering design role
• Experience in a workshop, manufacturing or production environment

Behavioural fit

• Approachable, dependable and able to lead or mentor
• Logical and thorough with record keeping
• Comfortable meeting deadlines and managing budgets
• Driven to deliver quality
• Performs well under pressure
• Works well independently and as part of a team, communicates openly and honestly, and takes a positive, solution focused approach to problems