Development Engineer

Platform Recruitment; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Platform Recruitment is seeking a Development Manufacturing Engineer in Exeter, offering up to 1 day WFH after probation. You will help improve manufacturability, repeatability, and cost‑effectiveness across new product designs in the R&D environment, guiding design and process decisions from prototyping to pre‑production.

You will review designs for manufacture, manage prototype builds, support DFMEA reviews, and drive cost reduction and process optimization with cross‑functional teams.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Experience advising on design for manufacture.
• Strong interpretation of engineering drawings and specs.
• Familiarity with sheet metal and assembly tolerances.

Responsibilities

• Advise design engineers on design for manufacture and assembly for repeatable, cost-effective production.
• Review component geometry, tolerances, materials, and standardisation to improve manufacturability.
• Identify early manufacturing challenges during product development.
• Lead prototype builds and communicate findings to stakeholders.
• Lead DFMEA reviews and implement manufacturing risk actions.
• Provide manufacturing guidance to inform design decisions throughout development.

Skills

Design for Manufacture

3D CAD

DFMEA

Education

Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Solid Edge

ERP systems

Job description

Development Manufacturing Engineer

Location: Exeter - 1 day WFH offered after probation

Employment: Permanent, full time

Salary: Up to £40k

Overview

An established manufacturing business is seeking a Development Manufacturing Engineer to improve the manufacturability, repeatability and cost-effectiveness of new product designs. Working within the R&D department, you will provide manufacturing and assembly expertise throughout product development, from early design iterations and prototyping through to pre-production builds. You will also lead improvement projects focused on cost reduction, manufacturing efficiency and product quality, working closely with design engineering, production engineering and other internal teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Advise design engineers on design for manufacture and assembly, ensuring products are practical, repeatable and cost-effective to produce.
• Review component geometry, tolerances, fastening methods, material selection and part standardisation to improve manufacturability.
• Identify manufacturing, assembly, tooling and material challenges during early product development.
• Assess component and assembly tolerances, access requirements and other design considerations that may affect production.
• Lead and coordinate prototype builds, gathering feedback and communicating findings to relevant project stakeholders.
• Support design reviews, challenging designs where necessary and recommending practical improvements.
• Lead R&D improvement projects, managing activities, stakeholder involvement, deadlines and project progress.
• Lead and support Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) reviews, identifying manufacturing risks and ensuring appropriate actions are implemented.
• Provide manufacturing guidance throughout product development to inform design decisions.
• Ensure prototypes are assessed and signed off before progressing to pre-production builds.
• Capture lessons learned from previous development projects and apply them to future designs and product iterations.
• Support production engineering initiatives focused on cost reduction, process optimisation and manufacturing efficiency.
• Collaborate with design engineering, production, quality, purchasing and other stakeholders to ensure successful product implementation.
• Ensure designs comply with relevant engineering standards, legislation and company procedures.

Requirements

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Strong understanding of engineering design principles and experience advising on design for manufacture.
• Ability to interpret and produce engineering drawings and technical specifications.
• Strong understanding of sheet metal manufacturing, assembly processes, materials and associated tolerances.
• Experience working within a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to identify and assess manufacturing risks during early-stage design and product development.
• Proven experience using 3D CAD software and producing 2D technical drawings.
• Strong project management, decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, take initiative and follow tasks through to completion.
• Excellent communication, organisational and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams and influence design decisions constructively.

Desirable: Formal training or experience in FMEA, design verification and validation; familiarity with domestic heating products; experience using sheet metal folding simulation software; Solid Edge or similar CAD software experience; familiarity with PDM/PLM and ERP systems; knowledge of Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies