We are seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer at a vehicle conversions engineering company. The Design Engineer will take ownership of the mechanical design function and report to the Technical Director. As the Mechanical Design Engineer, you must have fabrication expertise in sheet metal and plate‑work ideally. The primary challenge in this role is to address a critical departmental bottleneck: designs are currently transitioning to production without fully engineered drawings.
We need a structural specialist with a management mindset who can overhaul design standards and implement the necessary discipline to ensure every CAD release is 100% manufacture‑ready. You will introduce the structure and technical standards (BS8888) required to ensure that complex mechanical designs move seamlessly from concept to the job‑shop floor.
Key Responsibilities
- Design Excellence: Design & develop concepts & prototypes and feasibility modeling. Create and oversee comprehensive part, assembly, and installation drawings. You will be the final gatekeeper for quality, cost, and performance targets.
- Leadership & Mentorship: Manage a small team of designers with a dedicated focus on professional development—mentoring them in technical standards, fabrication logic, and industry best practices.
- Lifecycle Management: Manage the full design lifecycle—from concept and BOM management to engineering change (ECN) and release workflows.
- Production Liaison: Work closely with the Technical Director and the production teams to optimise designs for sheet‑metal and platework fabrication.
- Innovation: Actively research and implement new technologies and error‑proofing techniques to improve vehicle performance and manufacturability.
Technical Requirements & Mindset
- Fabrication Expertise: A heavy‑duty background in sheet metal and platework is essential. You must understand how metal behaves during folding, welding, and assembly processes.
- Industry Context: Experience within vehicle manufacturing is a significant advantage.
- Expert‑level proficiency in SolidWorks is essential.
- Analytical Leadership: Ability to use risk‑mitigation tools and Continuous Improvement (CI) methodologies to prevent design failures before they reach production.
- Deep understanding of BS8888 / GD&T drawing standards and safety policies within a manufacturing environment.
Qualifications
Degree in Engineering or Manufacturing preferred.
Why Join?
This is an opportunity to move into a management‑level position where you aren’t just maintaining a system, but actively building it. You will have the autonomy to define the “Gold Standard” for a market leader and see your engineering decisions reflected in high‑value vehicles on the road.
Benefits
- Competitive salary up to £65,000 per annum
- Free on‑site parking
- Flexi hours and a direct reporting line to the Technical Director
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