Senior Mechanical Engineer (Tooling)
Location: Derby (Hybrid Working Available)
Job Type: Permanent | Full Time
Sector: Nuclear | Defence | Mechanical Engineering
The Opportunity
We are seeking an experienced Senior Mechanical Engineer with a background in tooling or mechanical design to support the development of specialist equipment and systems for major defence programmes. Working across the full engineering lifecycle, you will be responsible for developing innovative mechanical design solutions, supporting concept development through to detailed design, and ensuring engineering outputs meet the highest standards of quality, safety and performance. This role offers the opportunity to work on technically challenging projects within a collaborative, multidisciplinary engineering environment.
Key Responsibilities
Mechanical Design
- Design mechanical systems, tooling and equipment to meet customer and project requirements.
- Produce concept designs, detailed engineering designs and manufacturing documentation.
- Develop practical engineering solutions to complex technical challenges.
- Modify and optimise existing designs to improve functionality, performance and manufacturability.
- Produce engineering calculations, reports and supporting technical documentation.
Project Delivery
- Deliver engineering activities across the full project lifecycle, from requirements capture through concept, detailed design, manufacture and implementation.
- Support project planning by defining budgets, schedules and work programmes.
- Monitor project progress, ensuring delivery to agreed quality, cost and programme objectives.
- Identify and manage technical risks and opportunities throughout project execution.
Engineering Assurance
- Evaluate mechanical designs for safety, reliability, performance and compliance.
- Ensure designs comply with relevant engineering standards, legislation and customer specifications.
- Participate in technical reviews, design verification activities and engineering assurance processes.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives and promote engineering best practice.
Collaboration & Leadership
- Work closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams, project managers and customers.
- Provide technical guidance and support to junior engineers where appropriate.
- Build strong working relationships across project teams and client organisations.
- Contribute to knowledge sharing and continuous professional development within the engineering team.
Essential Requirements
- Proven experience in a Mechanical Design or Tooling Engineering role within a highly regulated industry.
- Experience designing one or more of the following:
- Tooling
- Valves
- Pressure vessels
- Structural components
- Lifting equipment
- Mechanical handling systems
- Good understanding of relevant engineering design codes and safety legislation.
- Experience managing engineering work packages across the full design lifecycle.
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
Technical Skills
- Experience with the following would be advantageous:
- 3D CAD software (Siemens NX or similar)
- Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems such as Teamcenter
- Engineering analysis software including:
- MathCAD
- ANSYS
- ABAQUS
- Design for manufacture and assembly (DFMA)
- Engineering calculations and technical reporting
- Configuration management and engineering change control
Qualifications
- Degree (BEng or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
- Chartered Engineer (CEng) status, or working towards professional registration, is desirable.
Security Requirements
Due to the nature of the work, successful applicants must be eligible to obtain and maintain UK Security Check (SC) clearance. Applicants will also need to satisfy UK residency requirements to support security clearance applications.
What’s on Offer
- Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
- Hybrid and flexible working arrangements.
- Opportunity to work on nationally significant defence and submarine programmes.
- Structured career development and technical progression.
- Exposure to complex, safety‑critical engineering projects.
- Support towards professional registration and continued learning.
- Payment of professional membership fees.
- Generous annual leave entitlement.
- Competitive pension scheme.
- Employee wellbeing programme.
- Retail discounts and employee benefits platform.
- Collaborative working environment with industry‑leading engineering specialists.
Equal Opportunity
Westlakes Recruit is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is accessible and inclusive and will provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.
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