Mechanical Design Engineer

Mechanical Design Engineer
Location: Exeter - 1 day WFH offered after probation 
Employment: Permanent, full time
Salary: Up to £40k

Overview
An established manufacturing business is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer to support product development and the optimisation of existing product ranges. Working within the R&D team, you will lead design projects from initial concept through to testing, implementation and manufacture, focusing on improving product performance, reliability, quality, manufacturability and cost. You will collaborate with engineering, production, quality and supply chain teams to deliver effective design solutions and continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead R&D and product improvement projects from initial requirements through to design, testing and production implementation.

• Develop and update 3D CAD models for new and existing products, taking designs from concept through to manufacture.

• Produce accurate 2D engineering drawings and manufacturing specifications.

• Generate sheet metal folding simulation programmes and DXF files for laser cutting and punching processes.

• Conduct tolerance analysis to ensure components are suitable for manufacturing and assembly.

• Identify and implement improvements to existing products, enhancing performance, reliability, quality and cost-effectiveness.

• Manage engineering change requests, ensuring CAD models, drawings, specifications and supporting documentation remain accurate and up to date.

• Identify, assess and mitigate design risks throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Support pre-production builds and resolve design or manufacturing issues.

• Liaise with suppliers to resolve technical issues and support effective product implementation.

• Contribute to Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) reviews, ensuring design requirements are met and risks are appropriately managed.

• Maintain accurate bills of materials in collaboration with technical and administrative teams.

• Lead design reviews with relevant stakeholders, balancing technical requirements and cross-functional input.

• Work closely with production engineering, quality, purchasing and product development teams to support continuous improvement and design for manufacture.

Requirements

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Mechanical Design or a related engineering discipline.

• Strong understanding of mechanical engineering and product design principles.

• Proven experience using 3D CAD software and producing 2D technical manufacturing drawings.

• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications and technical requirements.

• Strong understanding of sheet metal manufacturing processes, materials and tolerances.

• Experience in product design, development and prototyping.

• Strong project management skills, with the ability to coordinate activities and meet deadlines.

• Ability to prioritise workloads, use initiative and manage multiple tasks effectively.

• Strong problem-solving, planning and decision-making skills.

• Excellent communication, organisational and stakeholder management skills.

• Ability to build effective working relationships across multidisciplinary teams.

Desirable: Formal training or experience in FMEA, design verification and validation; experience with sheet metal folding simulation software; familiarity with Solid Edge or similar CAD packages; experience using Product Data Management (PDM), Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems; knowledge of Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies; familiarity with domestic heating products.