Development Engineer

Latitude Recruitment; Pennington; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A growing engineering company in the UK is seeking a Development Engineer to design and develop composite products. The role requires expertise in composite manufacturing, proficiency in CAD systems like Solidworks, and the ability to refine manufacturing processes. Ideal candidates will have strong technical skills, hands-on engineering ability, and excellent communication skills. The position offers a salary between £40K and £55K, alongside benefits such as a company bonus and pension.

Benefits

Discretionary Company Bonus

Death in Service

Group Income Protection

Pension

Qualifications

• Strong technical capability in composites manufacturing.
• Proficient in Solidworks or equivalent 3D CAD systems.
• Hands-on engineering skills for prototyping and testing.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine composite products and processes.
• Drive initiatives to improve efficiency in manufacturing.
• Produce 3D CAD models and technical documentation.

Skills

Composites manufacturing

Solidworks or equivalent CAD systems

Design for manufacture (DFM)

Prototyping and testing

Excellent communication skills

Tools

CNC machining

3D printing

Job description

Development Engineer

We currently have an excellent opportunity for a Development Engineer to join a growing engineering company, based in Lymington.

Introduction

The primary role of the Development Engineer will involve the design and development of the sites products, refining the manufacturing processes, and supporting the transition from concept through prototyping into main production.

There will be an element of hands‑on working with manufacturing equipment and prototype development.

Previous development or manufacturing engineering experience, ideally within composites with a strong continuous process development background improving processes or developing new manufacturing methods would be ideal for this role.

Responsibilities

• Composite product & process development
• Drive the development, design, and delivery of high-volume composite products.
• Identify and drive initiatives to improve efficiency.
• Develop new designs, materials and manufacturing methods
• Develop prototype semi-automated processes to increase process throughput
• Co‑ordinate the transition of products from development into main production, ensuring processes meet cost, volume, and quality requirements.
• Produce documentation such as user manuals, PM schedules, spares lists, and work instructions.
• Product design
• Produce 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, BOMs, and technical documentation.
• Conduct design for manufacture (DFM) across plastics, metal fabrication, and assembly methods.
• Commission prototype builds, organise verification testing, and manage design iterations.
• Research and develop new product concepts through to launch.

Ideal Experience

The ideal candidate will have strong technical capability, knowledge of composites manufacturing, proficient in Solidworks or equivalent 3D CAD systems and product development processes experience.
Understanding of DFM across plastics, metals, and assemblies.
On the practical side the Development Engineer will have hands‑on engineering ability, ideally prototyping, testing, workshop skills or similar.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate across engineering, operations, and external partners.

Desirable Experience

• Exposure to product design, prototyping, or new product development.
• CNC machining, 3D printing, or rapid prototyping experience.
• Automation or mechatronics experience.

Salary

£40K - £55K

Hours

Days Shift, Monday to Friday

Benefits

• Discretionary Company Bonus
• Death in Service
• Group Income Protection
• Pension

If this Development Engineer opportunity could be of interest to you, please apply and we'll be in touch to discuss further