Design Engineering Technical Developer

Cranfield University; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent UK university is seeking a Design Engineering Technical Developer to support groundbreaking sanitation solutions in the Cranfield Circular Toilet Project. The role entails developing prototypes and managing engineering challenges while collaborating with a multidisciplinary team. Candidates should possess a Master’s Degree and extensive SolidWorks skills, with experience in sanitation-oriented technologies being an advantage. This is a full-time temporary position, offering a salary ranging from £28,929 to £33,825 per annum.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree is required.
• Proven experience in manufacturing design for cost-effectiveness is essential.
• Strong background in developing sanitation technologies preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support Senior Lecturer in Product Design Engineering.
• Develop prototypes for the Cranfield Circular Toilet Project.
• Lead development of sanitation technology stream.

Skills

SolidWorks

CAD modelling

Prototype development

Innovation through patents

Education

Master’s Degree

Job description

Organisation/Company Cranfield University Department HR & Development Group Research Field Engineering Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Master Positions Country United Kingdom Application Deadline 18 Jan 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/London) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 37 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number 5180 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Manufacturing, Materials and Design

Design Engineering Technical Developer

Fixed Term Contract for 12 months

Full time starting salary is normally in the range of £28,929 to £33,825 per annum

Location: Cranfield, Bedfordshire

We welcome applications from passionate, skilled, committed individuals to join our team.

About the Role

The Design Engineering Technical Developer will provide critical support to the Senior Lecturer in Product Design Engineering and the Centre for Digital Design Engineering team in design engineering and prototype development for the Cranfield Circular Toilet Project, a Gates Foundation-funded initiative developing next-generation sanitation solutions for global deployment. This role is essential to address the significant increase in prototyping deliverables, to ensure timely delivery of project outputs to commercial partners.

The successful candidate will work on breakthrough innovations in sanitation technology, contributing directly to solutions that will impact global health and sustainability for billions of people worldwide. By leveraging extensive knowledge in design engineering and proven capabilities in prototype development, the postholder will help deliver multiple new prototypes on schedule. This role offers the opportunity to work independently on complex engineering challenges while collaborating with a multidisciplinary team, making a tangible difference in advancing Cranfield’s reputation as a leading powerhouse of innovation in design engineering.

About You

You should hold a Master’s Degree. You should also be good at creating detailed CAD models for all sanitation system components and assemblies, preparing engineering drawings and technical specifications, and optimising the designs for manufacturability and cost-effectiveness.

You should have excellent SolidWorks skills in modelling 3D parts and working systems, preferably with experience in developing sanitation-based technologies. A demonstrable track record of innovation through patents and prototyping is an advantage. You must be able to show evidence that you are a named inventor on any innovation you are presenting. You must be able to independently lead the development of a technology stream within Cranfield’s reinvented toilet portfolio, with minimal oversight.

About Us

As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact here .

Cranfield’s Manufacturing, Materials and Design Theme has been following the ambitious strategy of developing a roadmap for Sustainable Manufacturing and Materials Sectors for 2050 by applying fundamental science and thought leadership via conceiving and maturing in the concepts of Smart, Clean and Green manufacturing solutions agnostically across all sectors, and through all tiers of the supply chain. This is to support the national aspiration of Net Zero UK by 2050.

We offer world-class and niche postgraduate level research, education, training and consultancy. We are unique in our multidisciplinary approach, by bringing together design, materials’ technology and management expertise. We link fundamental materials research with manufacturing to develop novel technologies and improve the science base of the manufacturing research. Our capabilities are unique, with a focus on simulation and modelling, and sustainability. They also include work in composite manufacture, metallic glasses, nanomaterials (graphene, carbon nanotubes, coatings and sensors), low energy casting, thermal barrier coatings, and Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM).

Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more here .

We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme. We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have beenranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity Working Families . Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working here .

Working Arrangements

Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners.

How to apply

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Dr Matt Collins, Senior Lecturer in Product Design Engineering, on (E): [e-mail]

Closing date for receipt of applications: 18 January 2026

Please note that we reserve the right to close this advert prior to the stated closing date should we receive sufficient numbers of applications. Therefore, we would encourage you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.