Mechanical Design Engineer

Mechanical Design Engineer – Bespoke Machinery & Automation

Location: Leicester, Leicestershire

Job Type: Permanent | Full-Time

The Opportunity

We are recruiting a Mechanical Design Engineer to join an established engineering business specialising in the development and manufacture of bespoke industrial machinery.

This is an opportunity to work on technically challenging engineering projects, developing mechanical equipment and assemblies for a range of industrial applications.

The business is open to considering engineers at different stages of their careers, from those with a few years of relevant machinery design experience through to established senior designers.

What matters most is practical mechanical engineering knowledge and experience designing equipment that functions as a complete mechanical system.

What You'll Be Doing

Working as part of a multidisciplinary engineering team, you'll be involved in developing mechanical solutions for new machinery and existing equipment.

Responsibilities will include:

Developing 3D CAD models, mechanical assemblies and detailed manufacturing drawings.

Designing mechanical equipment incorporating moving components and mechanisms.

Supporting projects from initial concept and development through manufacture, assembly and completion.

Carrying out engineering calculations and selecting suitable materials and components.

Designing with manufacturing, assembly, reliability and cost in mind.

Working closely with manufacturing, production, suppliers and other engineering disciplines.

Reviewing designs, resolving technical challenges and identifying improvements.

Preparing engineering documentation, bills of materials and technical information.

Supporting design reviews and ensuring appropriate engineering and safety standards are considered.

Contributing to continuous improvement and product development activities.

What We're Looking For

We're particularly interested in speaking with Mechanical Design Engineers who have experience designing machinery, equipment or complex mechanical assemblies.

You'll ideally bring:

Practical experience in mechanical design engineering.

Experience designing industrial machinery, mechanisms or moving assemblies.

Proficiency in 3D mechanical CAD software.

Sound understanding of mechanical engineering principles.

Knowledge of materials, manufacturing methods and component selection.

Experience producing detailed drawings for manufacture and assembly.

An understanding of design for manufacture and assembly (DFM/DFA).

Ability to solve practical engineering problems and develop workable design solutions.

Experience collaborating with manufacturing teams and suppliers.

A Mechanical Engineering degree or equivalent relevant engineering background would be advantageous.

Relevant Industry Backgrounds

Experience in any of the following areas could be particularly transferable:

Special-purpose machinery

Industrial automation equipment

Manufacturing and production machinery

Packaging and processing equipment

Material handling and conveyor systems

Rotating machinery and mechanical drive systems

Bespoke engineered equipment

Machine tools and industrial equipment

You don't necessarily need experience in exactly the same industry. The key is being able to demonstrate machinery design experience and a strong understanding of how mechanical systems operate.

What Makes Someone Successful in This Role

We're looking for an engineer who enjoys the practical side of mechanical design.

Someone who can explain not just how a component was modelled, but why it was designed in a particular way, how it interacts with other components, how it will be manufactured and how the finished machine will operate.

You'll be comfortable taking ownership of engineering challenges and working with others to turn concepts into reliable, manufacturable equipment