Design Engineer

Electra Commercial Vehicles Ltd; Brighouse; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Electra Commercial Vehicles Ltd is seeking a highly skilled CAD/CAE engineer to lead design from concept through delivery into manufacture. You will create technical plans for prototypes, analyse proposals, and manage CAD drawings, BOMs and related data.

The role demands strong analytical thinking, lean manufacturing understanding and effective communication with cross-functional teams in a demanding environment.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree preferred and relevant manufacturing expertise.
• Experience with CAD tools, 3D modelling and technical drawings.
• Familiarity with BOM structures and ERP/MRP systems helpful.
• Understanding of Lean manufacturing and standards/regulations.

Responsibilities

• Capture and specify design requirements and develop technical plans for prototypes using CAD/CAE.
• Analyse design proposals to identify issues and implement feasible solutions.
• Present design ideas in reviews and discussions with stakeholders.
• Produce cost proposals and participate in benchmarking activities.
• Conduct simulations and provide feedback to support design decisions.
• Manage BOMs, CAD models and engineering drawings; ensure timely delivery.
• Write progress reports and communicate outcomes to clients and team.

Skills

Analytical skills

Numeracy

Problem solving

Creative thinking

CAD/CAE proficiency

Technical drawings

3D modelling

Engineering principles

Team collaboration

Education

Engineering degree (manufacturing/engineering)

Professional body membership (advantage)

Tools

Solid Edge

Other CAD packages

Sage 200 MRP

Job description

Research and develop ideas for new products, technologies, components, processes and the systems used to make them. Work to improve the performance and efficiency of existing products. Provide support to the new- business and vehicle-launch team and work to ensure that all aspects of CAD design are created to fully meet the high specifications set. Responsible for ensuring the success of the design from inception through to delivery into manufacture, using innovative engineering skills to ensure seamless integration. Very hands on position, demanding high levels of creativity and flexibility. Work on many phases or sub-tasks of large projects working under instruction or entire projects of moderate complexity. Works under general supervision, reviewed at project milestones and on completion. Plans projects or subtasks so they may be tracked and presented. Results impact project/programme completion.

Key Responsibilities:

General and Task Management

• Ability to capture and specify the design requirements
• Research concept ideas using mathematical modelling to work out whether new developments and innovations would work and be cost effective
• Analyse the Engineering and Project input in order to interrogate it, reach

an agreement and integrate it formally in a Design solution

• Produce design ideas, based on research, into technical plans for prototypes using computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-assisted engineering (CAE) software
• Analyses the design proposals and the technical information in order to identify the issues arising during product development, defining and implementing adequate solutions in order to reach a feasible proposal with a high form and aesthetic quality
• Attend design reviews to present design ideas and to discuss and critique alternative design solutions
• Cost proposals
• Carry out simulations of products for new and prototype projects using in- house software for the customer and provide support and feedback on design
• Analyse and manage multiple design related issues to identify root cause
• Modify designs based on the analysis to re-test and analyse until design meets specification requirements
• Make design changes on existing products
• Control of Bill of Materials (BoM), CAD Models and Engineering Drawings
• Keep up with current and developing engineering trends
• Undertake special projects as required
• Contribute to continuous improvement activities
• Quality control of work by appropriate reviews
• Support process improvement activities
• Support technical staff
• Write reports and present progress at project meetings and to clients
• Achieve goals within budget
• Conduct benchmarking studies to determine best practices/designs and future trends
• Attend various meetings and action/communicate instructions
• Make presentations
• Undertake continuous training and development
• Independently determine approach and assigned tasks

Relationship Management

• Liaise and communicate with other departments, customers, suppliers and other service providers
• Be an effective team member, working with supervisor and colleagues to ensure smooth workflow with maximum output

Self Management

• Comply with the Health, Safety and Environmental Policies
• Assertive, optimistic, resilient and welcomes change
• Engages interest and participation of others and has a collaborative approach to working with others
• Proactively contributes to the team
• Is self aware
• Shows moral courage, openness and honesty in all dealings
• Good team-working skills
• Self-motivated, flexible, proactive and committed

Skills and Attributes:

• Independently determines approach to assigned tasks
• Strong analytical and numeracy skills
• Strong problem-solving skills with high attention to detail
• A creative, logical approach for generating new ideas and solutions, with the ability to transition through to part development
• A sound knowledge of computer aided design (CAD) software, technical drawings and 3D modelling
• An excellent grasp of engineering and design principles
• A knowledge of the qualities of metals and other materials
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills
• An understanding of manufacturing processes and construction methods
• Ability to plan and organise through several project stages
• An appreciation of wider business demands
• An awareness of the environmental impact of design ideas
• Able to effectively train his/her work group and effectively support work teams within the work group.
• Able to give effective presentations to general audiences and write convincing proposals and reports with all necessary backup material for department consumption
• Knowledgeable in some technical areas of the group’s scope, or having demonstrated ability to achieve a high level of proficiency in a short period of time
• Involved in projects involving multiple people
• Ability to support group to achieve goals within budget
• Demonstrated fiscal responsibility
• Ability to work well with others in a team environment, providing input and feedback in a helpful manner
• Ability to effectively communicate organisational goals to team
• Able to interact well with Suppliers
• Able to exercises some latitude and technical judgement in deciding work methods

Qualifications and Experience Levels:

• Relevant manufacturing/engineering degree preferred,
• Membership of an industry related Professional Body would be advantageous
• Experience of using Solid Edge is preferred but other CAD packages accepted.
• Experience in BOM (Bill of Material) structures/Sage 200 MRP
• Understanding of legislation and standards
• An understanding of Lean Manufacturing
• Experienced with a number of systems. Becoming a subject matter expert in at least one area or system
• Working knowledge of several other areas of specialisation