Design Engineer

Nicholas Associates; Barnsley; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Pension scheme

Healthcare benefits

Life insurance

Cycle-to-work scheme

On-site parking

Job summary

Nicholas Associates are recruiting a Design Engineer - Jigs & Fixtures / Process Development for a leading global manufacturer in Barnsley. The role focuses on developing, designing and maintaining jigs, fixtures and bespoke manufacturing equipment to meet production needs and quality targets.

You will work closely with manufacturing and product design teams to drive improvements, support automation, and ensure designs are manufacturable and robust within a busy production environment.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or HND equivalent.
• Strong 3D/2D CAD skills; CREO preferred.
• Experience designing jig and fixture and manufacturing equipment.
• Knowledge of design for manufacture (DFM) and CI principles.
• Experience with fabrication processes and tooling for manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, manufacture and implementation of new jigs and fixtures across production areas.
• Manage projects from concept through design, manufacture, commissioning and handover.
• Develop 3D models, 2D drawings, BOMs, manuals and technical docs.
• Ensure designs deliver accuracy, repeatability, robustness and cost-effectiveness.
• Support improvements in processes and automation with cross-functional teams.

Skills

Mechanical design

Project management

Stakeholder management

Communication

Teamwork

Education

Degree in Mechanical Engineering

HND qualification

Tools

CREO CAD

Job description

Design Engineer - Jigs & Fixtures / Process Development

Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire

Salary: £39,000 - £42,000 per annum

The Opportunity

Nicholas Associates are delighted to be working in partnership with a leading global manufacturer who are looking to recruit an experienced Design Engineer - Jigs & Fixtures / Process Development to join their growing engineering team at their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Barnsley.

This is an excellent opportunity for a mechanically biased Design Engineer with experience in jig and fixture design, manufacturing processes and CAD to play a key role in supporting and improving production capabilities.

The Role

As Design Engineer, you will be responsible for developing, designing and maintaining jigs, fixtures and bespoke manufacturing equipment, ensuring they meet production requirements, quality standards and operational targets.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Lead the design, development, manufacture and implementation of new jigs and fixtures across assigned production areas.
• Manage projects from initial concept through to design, manufacture, commissioning, validation and production handover.
• Develop and maintain 3D models, 2D engineering drawings, bills of materials (BOMs), user manuals and associated technical documentation.
• Ensure all jigs and fixtures are designed to deliver accuracy, repeatability, robustness and cost-effectiveness.
• Work closely with manufacturing and production teams to identify opportunities for process improvements, increased efficiency and automation.
• Liaise with product design engineers to recommend component design changes that improve manufacturability, fixture compatibility and automation potential.
• Support the introduction of new and improved manufacturing processes, working with internal teams and external suppliers.
• Establish and maintain calibration, inspection and preventative maintenance procedures for jigs and fixtures.
• Ensure all designs and engineering changes comply with company standards and engineering control procedures.
• Monitor project progress, ensuring delivery against agreed timescales, budgets and quality requirements.
• Maintain detailed records of jig and fixture designs, modifications, improvement proposals and validation activities.

The Ideal Candidate

We are keen to speak with Design Engineers who have a strong mechanical engineering background and practical experience in jig and fixture design within a manufacturing environment.

You will ideally have:

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent; HND-qualified candidates will also be considered.
• Proven experience in mechanical design, with a particular focus on jigs, fixtures and manufacturing equipment.
• Strong 3D and 2D CAD skills (CREO experience advantageous, although equivalent packages will be considered).
• Experience designing equipment and tooling for fabrication or manufacturing environments.
• Good understanding of design for manufacture (DFM) and continuous improvement principles.
• Experience working with a range of manufacturing processes, including:
  • Laser, plasma and waterjet cutting.
  • Pressing and cold forming.
  • CNC milling and turning.
  • EDM and surface/cylindrical grinding.
  • Automated and manual welding.
  • Fabrication and assembly.
  • Experience supporting automated, semi-automated and manual production processes.
• Strong project management, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A proactive, hands-on approach with the ability to work collaboratively across engineering and production teams.

Salary & Benefits

• Salary: £39,000 - £42,000 per annum.
• Annual bonus (recent average approximately £500).
• 25 days annual leave, increasing with service up to 30 days, plus bank holidays.
• 5% contributory pension scheme.
• Healthcare benefits scheme covering dental, optical and other services.
• Life insurance / death in service benefit.
• Retail discounts.
• Cycle-to-work scheme.
• Free on-site parking.
• Subsidised on-site refreshments and lunch options.
• Employee referral programme.

Working Hours

Monday - Thursday: 7:30am - 4:30pm.

Friday: 7:30am - 1:30pm.

About Us

We are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive community. In line with our Diversity and Inclusion policy, we welcome applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability. As a Disability Confident Employer, and part of the Nicholas Associates Group, we are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities, and we're happy to discuss flexible working options.

We are committed to protecting the privacy of all our candidates and clients. If you choose to apply, your information will be processed in accordance with the Nicholas Associates Group of companies