Graduate Mechanical Engineer (Rail)

Advantage Resourcing UK Ltd; Mansfield; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Structured training

Progression pathway

Benefits package

Chartership support

Job summary

Advantage Resourcing UK Ltd in Mansfield is recruiting a Graduate Mechanical Design Engineer to join a structured three-year training programme covering rail design, manufacture, maintenance and overhaul. You will benefit from a rapid progression pathway and long-term chartership support, with a comprehensive benefits package.

You will rotate from concept to completion, working under senior designers to develop 3D CAD models for freight wagons and heavy fabrication.

Qualifications

• Degree/HNC/HND in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent.
• Competent with 3D CAD software and mechanical design fundamentals.
• Good communication and teamwork skills in cross‑functional settings.

Responsibilities

• Structured 3-Year Rotation: first year with foundational knowledge and 2-month external placements.
• Mechanical Design & CAD: develop 3D CAD models, layouts and drawings for rail assets.
• Hands-on Manufacturing Exposure: experience in fabrication, welding, assembly and inspection.
• Progressive Ownership: progress from supported tasks to defined calculations and design packages by year 3.
• Value-Driven Engineering: apply MVP and value-engineering to simple, robust, cost-effective designs.

Skills

3D CAD

Design fundamentals

Engineering drawings

Materials knowledge

Education

Mechanical Engineering degree/HNC/HND

Job description

Graduate Mechanical Design Engineer Mansfield

£27,000 - £31,000 + structured 3-year training programme + rapid progression pathway + comprehensive benefits package + long term chartership support

Are you a recent or upcoming graduate in mechanical engineering, looking to step into a varied graduate programme, covering all areas of rail design, manufacture, maintenance and overhaul, with a highly successful and growing business which will provide excellent training, and a clear progression pathway?

Are you looking to develop into a versatile design role, where you will work from concept to completion, with the support of senior and principal designers, for a forward-thinking yet well-established business?

On offer is an excellent opportunity to join a renowned rail SME which has been established over 100 years, currently experiencing rapid growth after securing a major export deal.

The Role:

• Structured 3-Year Rotation:Spend your first year gaining foundational knowledge, alongside 2-month external placements at sister companies focused on maintenance and modifications to understand the full rail asset lifecycle.
• Mechanical Design & CAD:Develop 3D CAD models, layouts, manufacturing drawings, and technical documentation for freight wagons, containers, and heavy fabrication projects.
• Hands-on Manufacturing Exposure:Gain practical shop-floor experience across fabrication, welding, assembly, and inspection to understand how your designs are built.
• Progressive Ownership:Move from supported tasks in Y1 to executing defined engineering calculations and design packages in Y2, leading to full work package ownership and a strategic improvement project by Y3.
• Value-Driven Engineering:Learn and apply MVP and value-engineering principles to design simple, robust, and cost-effective engineering solutions.

The Person:

• Educational Background:Holds a degree, HNC/HND, or equivalent qualification in Mechanical Engineering.
• Technical Skills:Competent with 3D CAD software and possesses a solid understanding of mechanical design fundamentals, engineering drawings, and materials.
• Professional Ambition:Highly motivated to learn, take ownership of tasks, and work towards professional engineering registration (such as IEng or CEng).
• Communication Skills:Able to collaborate and communicate effectively with cross-functional internal teams, workshops, suppliers, and clients.

Does this sound like your next career move?