Graduate Design Engineer

White Label Recruitment Ltd; Middlewich; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A growing engineering business in the UK is seeking a graduate or junior Design Engineer to join their innovative team. The role offers hands-on experience, allowing the candidate to work closely with international teams while supporting live projects. Ideal for someone at the start of their engineering career, this opportunity combines design work with customer interaction and practical problem solving, supported by a culture of learning and mentoring.

Benefits

Real responsibility from day one

Exposure to international projects

Pathway for progression

Qualifications

• Degree (or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design, or a related discipline.
• Experience using 3D CAD (e.g., SolidWorks) and 2D CAD from studies or internships.
• Good communication skills and confidence working with different teams.

Responsibilities

• Create and develop mechanical designs and assemblies.
• Produce and update 3D CAD models and 2D drawings.
• Support engineering requests linked to customer enquiries.

Skills

3D CAD experience (SolidWorks)

Good communication skills

Interest in customer interaction

Curious and keen to learn

Education

Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design, or related discipline

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Locations: Cheshire, UK or Spain

Salary: £25,000 – £30,000

Working Pattern: On-site

Start Date: Immediate

The Opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity for a graduate or junior Design Engineer to join a growing, internationally active engineering business with an innovative product range and ambitious growth plans.

Ideal for someone at the start of their engineering career, this role offers far more than desk-based design work. You’ll gain hands‑on technical experience while also developing your commercial awareness, customer interaction skills, and confidence working with global teams.

You’ll be based in either the UK or Spain and will work closely with an international sister company in the USA, supporting live engineering projects while learning the full lifecycle of product and system design.

You’ll be joining a supportive, collaborative, and friendly team environment where questions are encouraged, ideas are shared, and development is genuinely supported.

What You’ll Be Doing

Design & Development

• Creating and developing mechanical designs and assemblies using customer requirements and site information
• Producing and updating 3D CAD models (SolidWorks) and 2D drawings
• Supporting prototype builds and testing to ensure designs work in practice
• Carrying out basic engineering calculations and ensuring designs meet quality standards

Documentation & Engineering Support

• Producing and maintaining drawings, BOMs, and assembly instructions
• Supporting engineering change requests and updates
• Managing part numbers and documentation within internal systems

Customer, Sales & Team Interaction

• Supporting engineering requests linked to customer enquiries and quotations
• Working closely with Sales, Manufacturing, Operations, and Quality teams
• Communicating design intent clearly to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders
• Building confidence presenting ideas and solutions internally and occasionally to customers

Hands‑On & Site‑Based Work

• Supporting installation, testing, and troubleshooting activities
• Assisting with prototype builds and practical verification work
• Gaining exposure to manufacturing, assembly, and real‑world problem solving

What We’re Looking For

Essential

• Degree (or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design, or a related discipline
• Experience using 3D CAD (e.g. SolidWorks) and 2D CAD from studies, placements, internships, or early‑career roles
• Interest in both engineering and customer‑facing work
• Good communication skills and confidence working with different teams
• Organised, curious, and keen to learn
• Comfortable interpreting drawings, sketches, and technical information

Desirable (but not essential)

• Placement, internship, or early‑career experience (1–3 years)
• Exposure to sales support, customer interaction, or commercial projects
• Experience with ERP, MRP, or PDM systems
• Knowledge of manufacturing, fabrication, or regulated environments
• Bilingual English / Spanish (required for Albacete, preferred for Middlewich)

Why This Role Is a Great Start to Your Career

• Real responsibility and hands‑on engineering experience from day one
• Exposure to international projects and global collaboration
• A strong pathway for progression as your skills and confidence grow
• A role that blends design, engineering, and customer interaction
• Supportive culture with mentoring and learning at its core