Mechanical Design Engineer

ProFound People; South Australia; On-site; AUD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment consultancy is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to work in Adelaide, Australia. The role involves taking ownership of complex hardware design for critical projects, primarily in defence technology. Candidates should have over seven years of experience in mechanical product design, advanced CAD proficiency, and relevant education. This position offers the chance to contribute to Australia's national security through real engineering work and potential career growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• 7+ years experience in mechanical product design.
• Advanced proficiency in 3D CAD is essential.
• Experience with high-thermal environments is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of complex machinery and thermal management systems.
• Utilize advanced CAD for creating functional mass-optimized assemblies.
• Manage the hardware lifecycle, from prototype to production.

Skills

3D CAD proficiency

Mechanical product design

FEA and thermal analysis

Understanding of GD&T

Education

Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering

Tools

FEA/CFD packages

Job description

Direct message the job poster from ProFound People

Sr. Mechanical Engineer now Engineering Recruitment Consultant | BEng, Product Development (Hons)

Location: Adelaide, South Australia

Industry: Defence, Aerospace & Advanced Propulsion

Type: Full-time | On-site | Permanent

Requirements: Australian Citizenship Required (Security Clearance Eligibility)

About the Opportunity

Come and join an Adelaide-based organisation at the forefront of Australian defence technology. This isn’t a massive corporate machine where you are just a number in a system; it is a specialist engineering hub where your work directly impacts the future of sovereign capability.

They are moving rapidly from R&D concepts to production and are looking for a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to take ownership of complex hardware.

Who This Suits

A dedicated Mechanical Designer - an engineer who takes pride in the physical realisation of high-performance hardware. It is the perfect fit if:

• You are a builder at heart. You thrive on creating solutions in CAD and driving them through to physical manufacture.
• You value manufacturability. You understand that precision, tolerance analysis, and ease of assembly are just as critical as theoretical performance.
• You want to work in an environment where you have a direct line to decision-makers and the freedom to influence the technical direction of the product.

What You’ll Be Doing

Reporting to the Engineering Manager, you will bridge the gap between aerodynamic concepts and manufacturable reality. The work is hands‑on, high‑precision, and varied.

• Lead Mechanical Design: Take ownership of complex machinery, thermal management systems, and flight‑critical structures from concept to detailed design.
• High‑Fidelity Modelling: Utilise advanced 3D CAD to create functional, mass‑optimised assemblies.
• Simulation for Design: Use FEA and thermal analysis tools to validate your designs iteratively – integrating analysis into your design process to drive robust decision‑making.
• Design for Manufacture (DFM): Apply rigorous GD&T to ensure components are manufactured to specification and cost targets.
• Prototype to Production: Manage the full lifecycle of the hardware, including BOM management and physical assembly integration.

What You Bring

Someone who is competent, reliable, and comfortable owning their design decisions.

• Experience: 7+ years in mechanical product design, ideally within Aerospace, Defence, Automotive, or Precision Manufacturing environments.
• Technical Core: Advanced proficiency in 3D CAD is non‑negotiable. You model for function, mass, and assembly readiness.
• Propulsion DNA: Experience with rotating assemblies (turbines, pumps, motors) or high‑thermal environments is a distinct advantage.
• The “Nice to Have”: Proficiency with FEA/CFD packages is highly valued as a tool to de‑risk your designs.
• Education: Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent).

Why Join?

• Sovereign Impact: Work on projects that matter to Australia’s national security.
• Real Engineering: A strong focus on core design and hardware delivery. You will see your designs built, tested, and flown.
• Growth: As the team expands its manufacturing capability, you will have the opportunity to step into technical leadership or specialist streams.

Ready to Chat?

If you are a design‑focused engineer looking to apply your skills to high‑performance hardware, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now or send me a DM for a confidential conversation.