Junior Mechanical Design Engineer

Probe UK; Butterley; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life insurance

Employee Assistance Programme

23 days holiday

Job summary

Probe UK is seeking a Junior Mechanical Design Engineer to join a leading manufacturing business experiencing rapid growth. You will work on mechanical and product development, taking concepts from initial idea through to production.

With support from experienced engineers, you’ll create 3D CAD models, manufacture drawings and robust prototypes, build your skills, and contribute to cost, usability and performance improvements across existing and new products.

Qualifications

• Mechanical engineering degree or relevant qualification/experience.
• Around 1-2 years' experience in mechanical design or similar.
• Confident using 3D CAD, preferably SolidWorks, with ability to produce accurate drawings.
• Understanding of materials, manufacturing processes and design for production.
• Hands-on prototyping, testing and developing designs from concept through to manufacture.
• Strong problem-solving mindset and collaborative communication across teams.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop products, improving performance, usability, safety and cost.
• Investigate challenges and develop practical solutions.
• Create detailed 3D CAD models, manufacturing drawings and technical documentation in SolidWorks.
• Design for manufacture, considering materials, costs and ease of assembly.
• Support calculations, prototypes and product testing to validate designs.
• Collaborate with production, testing, operations, purchasing and engineering teams.

Skills

Problem solving

Collaborative

Communication skills

Education

Mechanical Engineering degree or relevant qualification/experience

Tools

SolidWorks

3D CAD

Job description

This is a fantastic opportunity for a Junior Mechanical Design Engineer to join a leading business who are in a period of exciting growth. They are a leading provider in the UK, a market leader in Europe and have a presence in many other countries worldwide. They continue to expand rapidly in the UK and internationally, a business that has doubled in size these last few years.

They are proud of their fast-paced and dynamic manufacturing environment, where customer satisfaction and continuous improvement are at the heart of everything that they do.

Junior Mechanical Design Engineer Pay, Hours and Benefits

• £23,000 - £26,000, dependant on experience
• 37.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:00pm
• 23 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Life insurance cover
• Employee Assistance Programme

This role is commutable from the following areas: Derby, Nottingham, Sutton in Ashfield, Mansfield, Chesterfield.

Junior Mechanical Design Engineer Role Overview

This is an exciting opportunity for an early-career engineer with around 1-2 years' experience to build their technical skills and gain hands‑on experience in mechanical and product development. You'll work on both new and existing products, finding practical ways to improve performance, usability, safety and cost.

You’ll create 3D CAD models and manufacturing drawings in SolidWorks, investigate engineering challenges, and support prototype builds and product testing. Working closely with production and engineering teams, you’ll see your designs progress from concept through to production.

With support from experienced engineers, you’ll be encouraged to bring ideas, solve problems and take increasing ownership of your projects — ideal for someone looking to develop their career in mechanical design.

Junior Mechanical Design Engineer Candidate Requirements

• A Mechanical Engineering, Product Design Engineering degree or relevant engineering qualification/experience.
• Around 1-2 years' experience in mechanical design, ideally within a manufacturing environment.
• Confident using 3D CAD, preferably SolidWorks, with the ability to produce accurate engineering drawings and technical documentation.
• A practical understanding of materials, manufacturing processes and design for production.
• Some hands‑on experience with prototyping, testing and developing designs from concept through to manufacture.
• A strong problem‑solving mindset, with the ability to analyse challenges and find practical solutions, with a collaborative approach and good communication skills, working effectively across different teams.
• Most importantly, a curious, proactive attitude and the ambition to keep learning, develop your skills and take on greater responsibility.

Please Note: Candidates must have the right to live and work in the UK.

Junior Mechanical Design Engineer Key Responsibilities

• Design & Develop: Create and improve products, identifying opportunities to enhance performance, usability, safety and cost.
• Solve Real-World Problems: Investigate product and engineering challenges and develop practical solutions.
• Bring Designs to Life: Produce detailed 3D CAD models, manufacturing drawings and technical documentation using SolidWorks.
• Design for Manufacture: Consider materials, costs, manufacturability and ease of assembly from the outset.
• Build & Test: Support engineering calculations, prototypes and product testing to validate and refine your designs.
• Work Across the Business: Collaborate with production, testing, operations, purchasing and engineering teams to resolve technical issues.
• Own the Detail and Make a Difference: Maintain accurate drawings, revisions and engineering change documentation. Contribute to value engineering and product improvements that enhance the customer experience.