Lead Design Engineer
Based at our site in Whitstable, Kent, the Lead Design Engineer will provide technical leadership within the engineering function of the UK’s leading supplier of passive fire protection products, an organisation actively involved in driving fire standards in the UK. The role is responsible for the design integrity, development and lifecycle support of mechanical products. It covers reverse engineering and redesign of legacy products, as well as new product development, ensuring solutions meet functional, cost, manufacturing and regulatory requirements. The Lead Engineer sets technical direction, maintains engineering standards and guides the design team through concept, development and validation.
Main duties and responsibilities
- Ensure all engineering designs, prototypes and development activities are carried out in accordance with relevant health, safety and regulatory requirements
- Provide technical leadership across mechanical product design, development and lifecycle support
- Lead reverse engineering activities to analyse, redesign and improve existing products
- Develop concept designs based on engineering analysis, test data and requirements
- Produce 2D/3D CAD models and drawings using AutoCAD
- Plan and execute prototype manufacture including build and evaluation
- Design and conduct Design of Experiments (DOE)
- Perform FEA analysis (Nastran)
- Analyse test data to drive product improvement
- Own technical problem solving and root cause analysis
- Support manufacturing and resolve design issues
- Maintain technical documentation and reports
Essential Experience
- 5-10+ years mechanical design engineering experience
- Reverse engineering and product redesign
- Prototype development and testing
- Engineering analysis (FEA/calculations)
- Technical leadership or supervisory experience
Desirable Experience
- Project management experience
- Direct medium-high volume production environment exposure
- Toolroom trained (lathe, CNC, etc)
- Prototype development
- Lean/Continuous Improvement
Essential Qualifications
- Degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent experience
Equal Opportunities Statement
We are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation, in line with the Equality Act 2010. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates and are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and accessible to all. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
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