Design Engineer

JR United Kingdom; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A well-established kitchen manufacturer in Cardiff is seeking a highly skilled Design Engineer to join their Technical team. This role focuses on leading new product developments and ensuring products are innovative and successful. Candidates should possess a relevant engineering degree and demonstrate strong experience in product design and manufacturing processes.

Benefits

Salary based on experience and potential

Qualifications

• Demonstrable product design experience in manufacturing.
• Proven experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably furniture.
• Strong understanding of health and safety regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and contribute to new product development projects.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure manufacturability.
• Maintain and enhance automated CAD design software.

Skills

Product design

Manufacturing processes

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Project management

Effective communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Manufacturing, Product Design)

Tools

CAD (Solidworks)

ERP systems

MS Excel

SQL

Job description

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Founded in 1975 with headquarters to the north-west of Cardiff, Sigma 3 Kitchens Ltd are a family-owned manufacturer, distributor and retailer of kitchens who are celebrating their 50th Anniversary in 2025. With a huge focus on quality of product and service to our customers, Sigma 3 are the most trusted UK retailer of kitchens according to Trustpilot, scoring 5 out of 5 from over 2,300 verified customer reviews.

As a business, our goal is market-leading growth and profitability, which we aim to reinvest into the Company’s future. We strive to achieve this by working hard, delivering exceptional customer experiences, enjoying our work, and taking pride in our accomplishments.

Sigma 3 have embarked on a significant investment programme, to support strategic opportunities that will materially grow our market share over the next few years. With our people at the heart of what we do, investing in the development of existing teams as well as the recruitment of new talent into the organisation will be fundamental in taking the business to the level required to achieve our ambitions.

Job purpose

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Design Engineer to join our Technical team. In this key role, you will lead and contribute to the development of new products—from early concepts through to full production—helping to ensure our products are innovative, practical, and commercially successful.

You’ll work closely with colleagues across design, production, quality, and supply chain to bring ideas to life; support manufacturing operations; and help improve processes across the business. You’ll also play a role in maintaining and developing our automated CAD design system and providing technical product support where needed, both internally and to our customers.

Our recent expansion into a state-of-the-art facility in Bridgend, along with planned upgrades to our Llantrisant site, presents an exciting opportunity for a creative and practical individual to make a meaningful impact in a fast-paced, forward-thinking environment.

Values and Behaviours

• A passion for innovation, with an inquisitive mindset and a strong desire to learn and grow.
• A proactive attitude—taking ownership, addressing challenges head-on, and seeking out opportunities to add value.
• A focus on working with accuracy and pace, delivering high-quality results efficiently.
• The confidence to question existing processes and suggest improvements where opportunities exist.
• A collaborative team player who works well with others to achieve shared goals.
• A methodical, data-driven approach to problem-solving, using evidence and analysis to inform decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and contribute to New Product Development projects from research and initial concept through prototyping and into full-scale production.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including design, production, quality, and supply chain to ensure manufacturability and product feasibility.
• Develop and maintain product data and process documentation, including CAD, BOMs, ERP & CNC data, and standard operating procedures.
• Support manufacturing teams with technical expertise, including troubleshooting, process optimisation, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Maintain and enhance automated CAD design software system.
• Provide technical product support to the wider business in addition to B2B customers.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives, driving a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

Some skills and experience that we are looking for:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Manufacturing, Product Design or related field) or equivalent practical experience.
• Demonstrable product design experience (Concept & Detailed Design, Design for Manufacture/Assembly, DFMEA etc.)
• Proven experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably in furniture manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, including machining, assembly, and quality control. Experience of automated manufacturing systems an advantage.
• Proficiency in using CAD (Solidworks preferable) and ERP systems is essential.
• Proficiency in MS Excel and handling large datasets is essential. Working knowledge of SQL an advantage.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with a data-driven approach.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Effective communication skills, with the ability to collaborate and influence cross-functional teams.
• Knowledge of health and safety regulations and their application in a manufacturing environment.

In return we offer you:

• Salary based on experience and potential