Design Engineer

ATA Recruitment; South Brent; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Company pension

Career progression

Technical training and development

Job summary

ATA Recruitment are supporting an established engineering solutions business in Exeter seeking a Design Engineer to join its team. You will design bespoke hydraulic and pneumatic systems, model in SolidWorks, and prepare detailed manufacturing drawings for blue‑chip clients.

This permanent role on a Monday–Friday schedule offers a salary of £35,000–£42,000 plus benefits and opportunities for career development within a growing group.

Qualifications

• Experience in mechanical design with focus on industrial systems.
• Ability to produce manufacturing drawings and interpret specifications.
• Experience in fabrication design and sheet metal concepts.
• Good communication and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Design hydraulic power units and systems for industrial applications.
• Produce detailed 3D models using SolidWorks.
• Create manufacturing and assembly drawings.
• Design hydraulic cylinders and associated components.
• Carry out Design for Manufacture (DFM) activities.
• Design fabricated structures including frames, skids, enclosures, bracketry and assemblies.
• Support projects from concept through to manufacture.
• Liaise with suppliers, customers and internal engineering teams.
• Support continuous improvement and engineering best practices.

Skills

Mechanical design

Manufacturing drawings

Fabrication design

Interpreting specifications

Problem solving

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Design Engineer

Exeter | £35,000 - £42,000 + Benefits | Permanent | Monday-Friday

ATA Recruitment are supporting an established and growing engineering solutions business is seeking a Design Engineer to join its Exeter operation. This is an excellent opportunity to become part of a specialist engineering team delivering custom hydraulic and pneumatic systems for blue-chip clients across aerospace, defence, manufacturing, FMCG, water, and industrial sectors.

With significant investment, ambitious growth plans, and a strong reputation for delivering complex engineering solutions, this role offers the chance to work on technically challenging projects while developing your expertise in hydraulic system design.

About the Company

Our client is part of one of the UK's leading engineering and industrial component groups, employing over 600 people nationwide and supplying engineered solutions to some of the world's most recognised manufacturing and industrial organisations.

There is a specialist engineering division designs, manufactures, tests and installs bespoke systems, the Exeter operation delivers full turnkey projects, taking solutions from concept and design through to manufacture, installation, commissioning and ongoing support.

Customers include major organisations operating within aerospace, defence, advanced manufacturing, food production and industrial engineering environments.

The Role

As Design Engineer, you will be responsible for designing bespoke systems and supporting structures for a wide variety of industrial applications.

Projects typically range from £5,000 to £450,000 and involve a combination of hydraulic, mechanical and fabrication design work.

You will work closely with production, installation teams, suppliers and customers to ensure solutions are practical, cost-effective and manufacturable.

Key Responsibilities

• Design hydraulic power units and hydraulic systems for industrial applications
• Produce detailed 3D models using SolidWorks
• Create manufacturing and assembly drawings
• Design hydraulic cylinders and associated components
• Carry out Design for Manufacture (DFM) activities
• Design fabricated structures including:
  • Frames
  • Skids
  • Enclosures
  • Bracketry
  • Fabricated assemblies
• Support projects from concept through to manufacture
• Liaise with suppliers, customers and internal engineering teams
• Support continuous improvement and engineering best practice initiatives

What We're Looking For

We are keen to speak with Design Engineers, Mechanical Design Engineers, Project Design Engineers or Product Design Engineers from a manufacturing or engineering environment.

Essential Requirements

• Experience in a mechanical design role
• Proficient in SolidWorks or similar 3D CAD package
• Experience producing detailed manufacturing drawings
• Strong understanding of fabrication and sheet metal design
• Ability to interpret engineering specifications and customer requirements
• Good communication and problem-solving skills

Desirable Experience

• Hydraulic system design
• Pneumatic system design
• Mechanical handling equipment
• Industrial machinery
• Fluid power systems
• Pressure systems
• Defence or aerospace projects
• Design calculations and technical specifications

Candidates without direct hydraulic design experience are encouraged to apply, as full training and development can be provided for engineers with strong mechanical design fundamentals.

What's On Offer

• £35,000 - £42,000 basic salary
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Company pension
• Career progression within a growing engineering group
• Exposure to diverse engineering projects
• Technical training and development
• Opportunity to develop specialist hydraulic design expertise
• Stable, long-term career prospects

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ATA is committed to creating a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation