Junior Design Production Engineer

Jonathan Lee Group; Great Barr; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

None

Job summary

Jonathan Lee Group is assisting an established engineering business in recruiting a Junior Design & Production Engineer. This hands-on role blends design and manufacturing exposure, going beyond CAD to cover production, quality and maintenance.

You’ll work with the design, quality, production and maintenance teams to develop components, fixtures and new designs. The ideal candidate has a mechanical engineering background (degree/HNC/HND) and some CAD experience, preferably SolidWorks.

Qualifications

• A degree, HNC/HND or equivalent qualification in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering or a related discipline.
• Some previous engineering or CAD experience.
• Experience using CAD, ideally SolidWorks.
• A genuine interest in engineering design and manufacturing.
• A practical mindset and an interest in understanding how things work.
• Good problem-solving skills.
• A willingness to learn and develop new skills.
• The confidence to ask questions and get involved.
• A strong work ethic and a willingness to take on different tasks.

Responsibilities

• Producing and modifying engineering drawings and 3D models using CAD/SolidWorks.
• Supporting the design and development of components, fixtures and equipment.
• Working closely with production to understand manufacturing processes.
• Supporting the introduction of new designs into production.
• Helping investigate and resolve engineering and production issues.
• Supporting quality investigations and continuous improvement projects.
• Working alongside maintenance on practical engineering and equipment-related tasks.
• Identifying opportunities to improve machinery, processes and products.
• Developing your knowledge of materials, manufacturing methods, tolerances and engineering standards.
• Supporting the wider team with day-to-day engineering projects and problems.

Skills

CAD experience

SolidWorks

Problem solving

Willingness to learn

Education

BA/BSc equivalent in Mechanical Engineering or related

HNC/HND in Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

CAD software

Job description

Are you an early-career engineer looking for a role where you can develop your skills across both design and production?

I'm currently working with an established engineering business that is looking to bring a Junior Design & Production Engineer into the team.

This is a great opportunity for someone who has some engineering experience or a relevant qualification and is keen to develop into a well-rounded, hands‑on engineer.

The role offers exposure to much more than just CAD. You'll have the opportunity to work across design, production, quality and maintenance, gaining a genuine understanding of how an engineering business operates from the shop floor through to design and management.

The Role

You'll work closely with the existing design function as well as the quality, production and maintenance teams.

CAD experience is important, ideally SolidWorks, but the client is particularly interested in someone with the right attitude and a genuine desire to learn.

This is a hands‑on engineering position, so it would suit someone who enjoys getting away from the desk and understanding how things are actually made, maintained and improved.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Producing and modifying engineering drawings and 3D models using CAD/SolidWorks.
• Supporting the design and development of components, fixtures and equipment.
• Working closely with production to understand manufacturing processes.
• Supporting the introduction of new designs into production.
• Helping investigate and resolve engineering and production issues.
• Supporting quality investigations and continuous improvement projects.
• Working alongside maintenance on practical engineering and equipment‑related tasks.
• Identifying opportunities to improve machinery, processes and products.
• Developing your knowledge of materials, manufacturing methods, tolerances and engineering standards.
• Supporting the wider team with day‑to‑day engineering projects and problems.

What They're Looking For

The client is open‑minded on background and is primarily looking for someone with the right attitude and potential.

You could have:

• A degree, HNC/HND or equivalent qualification in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering or a related discipline.
• Some previous engineering or CAD experience.
• Experience using CAD, ideally SolidWorks.
• A genuine interest in engineering design and manufacturing.
• A practical mindset and an interest in understanding how things work.
• Good problem‑solving skills.
• A willingness to learn and develop new skills.
• The confidence to ask questions and get involved.
• A strong work ethic and a willingness to take on different tasks.

Attitude is key

This is probably the most important part of the role.

The client isn't expecting someone to arrive knowing everything. They're looking for someone who is hungry to learn, willing to get stuck in and isn't afraid of practical, traditional engineering.

You might spend part of your day working on a CAD drawing and the next helping the production or maintenance team solve a problem on the shop floor.

The successful candidate will be someone who is happy to roll their sleeves up, learn from experienced colleagues and get involved wherever they can add value.

Why This Role?

The engineering/design team is currently small, meaning you'll have excellent exposure to the wider business and the opportunity to take on responsibility from an early stage.

You'll work closely with the Quality Manager, quality team, maintenance, production and senior management, giving you the opportunity to learn from people across the organisation.

For someone at the beginning of their engineering career, it's a chance to build a broad and practical engineering skill set rather than becoming narrowly focused on one area.

The client is looking for someone who wants to build a long‑term career with the business and develop alongside the team.

Interested?

If you're looking for a role where you can develop your engineering career, gain strong CAD experience and, importantly, get genuine hands‑on exposure to production and engineering, I'd be keen to hear from you.