Design Engineer (Steelwork and Fabrication)

Industrial Engineering and Installation Services; Stone; Hybrid; GBP 33,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Industrial Engineering and Installation Services (IEIS) in Stone, Staffordshire, is seeking a Design Engineer to develop 3D structural models and fabrication drawings. You’ll progress from Tier 3 to Tier 4 based on performance, with a practical, hands-on steelwork background guiding your entry.

Role covers design, site surveys, and collaboration with external calculations, offering hybrid working after ramp-up and opportunity to grow with a small, central design team.

Qualifications

• HNC or higher in Mechanical Engineering, or a Level 3 qualification with solid post-qualification experience.
• A hands‑on background in steelwork design, fabrication, or installation – this decides your entry tier.
• Proven ability to design steel structures: platforms, staircases, and support frames.
• Full UK driving licence
• Right to work in the UK without visa sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Develop 3D structural models in Autodesk Advance Steel from client data or in-house designs.
• Produce 2D fabrication and general arrangement drawings from 3D models.
• Work with structural calculations from a third party to enable design completion.
• Conduct 3D point cloud surveys using in-house scanning kit on occasional site visits.
• Support fabrication and installation teams with technical design input.
• Interpret engineering specifications to deliver compliant, cost-effective designs.
• Diagnose and resolve technical design issues.
• Develop detailed component and assembly drawings from datasheets and reference projects.

Skills

Hands-on steelwork

3D modelling

Fabrication drawings

Steel structure design

Education

HNC or higher in Mechanical Engineering

Level 3 qualification with solid post-qualification experience

Tools

Autodesk Advance Steel

3D point cloud surveys

Job description

Design Engineer – Steelwork and Fabrication

If you've built or fitted steelwork on site and fancy trading the tools for a screen, we'll train you to draw what you already know how to build.

Two Clear Tiers – Based on Your Experience

Tier 3 – Designer Engineer

£33,000–£38,000

+ £2,000 annual bonus

Entry point – hands-on steelwork background welcome

Tier 4 – Senior Designer Engineer

£38,000–£45,000 DOE

+ £3,000 annual bonus

For candidates bringing more design experience

About IEIS

IEIS (Industrial Engineering and Installation Services) is a specialist engineering business based at Stone Business Park, Staffordshire, working across water treatment, energy, industrial, and manufacturing sites. The business is growing, and the design team sits at the centre of that growth. It's a small team, so your work gets noticed.

The Role

Day to day, you'll cover 3D modelling, fabrication drawings, structural calculations, and occasional UK site visits for point cloud surveys, reporting directly to the Design Manager. Whether you land at Tier 3 or Tier 4 comes down to what you bring: pick up a brief, run with it, and ask the right questions along the way.

We actively welcome site-based engineers and fabricators who want to move into design. If you know how steel goes together in the real world, our design team can teach you how to draw it, and that practical grounding is genuinely valued here.

You’ll

• Develop 3D structural models in Autodesk Advance Steel from client data or in-house designs
• Produce 2D fabrication and general arrangement drawings from 3D models
• Work with structural calculations from a third party to enable design completion
• Conduct 3D point cloud surveys using in-house scanning kit on occasional site visits
• Support fabrication and installation teams with technical design input
• Interpret engineering specifications to deliver compliant, cost-effective designs
• Diagnose and resolve technical design issues
• Develop detailed component and assembly drawings from datasheets and reference projects

What You’ll Bring

Essential

• HNC or higher in Mechanical Engineering, or a Level 3 qualification with solid post-qualification experience
• A hands‑on background in steelwork design, fabrication, or installation – this decides your entry tier
• Proven ability to design steel structures: platforms, staircases, and support frames
• Full UK driving licence
• Right to work in the UK without visa sponsorship

Useful, Not Essential

• Experience with Autodesk Advance Steel (training provided)
• A background in site installation or fabrication – real‑world structural knowledge is a genuine advantage

What’s On Offer

Financial: £33,000 up to £45,000 DOE, plus a £2,000–£3,000 annual bonus

Development: on-the-job training and software support, working across high-value industrial projects UK-wide

Progression: Tier 3 to Tier 4 as you grow, based on performance, not time served

Flexibility: office-based to start, hybrid once you're up to speed

Working Arrangements

• Location: Stone, Staffordshire
• Contract: Permanent, full-time
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am–4pm (37.5 hours). No weekend working