Junior Project Engineer – Defence, Space & Advanced Manufacturing

Major Forces - Major Recruitment; Ellesmere Port; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Specialist technical training and dev.

Exposure to defence, space and A.M.‑or

Long‑term progression pathway

Job summary

Major Forces - Major Recruitment seeks a Junior Project Engineer to join the defence, space and advanced manufacturing team in Ellesmere Port. You will work alongside experienced engineers on technically demanding projects, supporting planning, coordination and delivery.

The role suits an engineering technician, junior engineer or technically experienced individual aiming to move into project engineering, with training and development provided. Military transition candidates are welcome.

Qualifications

• Background in mechanical, electrical, manufacturing or related engineering discipline.
• Practical engineering experience through employment, apprenticeship or military service.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and technical specifications.
• Willingness to learn new technologies and develop technical competencies.
• Experience with safety-critical environments is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Support planning, coordination and delivery of engineering projects.
• Review engineering drawings, specifications and documentation.
• Assist with project planning, scheduling and coordination.
• Work closely with manufacturing and production teams to support project delivery.
• Support the development and improvement of engineering processes and technical solutions.
• Help identify and resolve technical challenges during project delivery.
• Prepare and maintain project documentation, technical records and progress reports.
• Support quality assurance, testing and inspection activities.
• Develop knowledge of specialist coating technologies, vacuum systems and precision engineering processes.
• Ensure engineering activities meet health, safety, quality and customer requirements.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Electrical engineering

Reading drawings

Problem solving

Team communication

Safety compliance

Education

Engineering apprenticeship or degree

Tools

CAD software

Project management software

Job description

Junior Project Engineer - Defence, Space & Advanced Manufacturing

Location: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire
Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time
Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Sector: Engineering | Defence | Space | Advanced Manufacturing

About the Opportunity

Major Forces is recruiting on behalf of an established and growing specialist engineering business based in Ellesmere Port, supporting customers across the defence, aerospace, space and advanced manufacturing sectors.

We are looking for a Junior Project Engineer to join their engineering team and develop a career working with specialist technologies, advanced manufacturing processes and technically demanding engineering projects.

This is an excellent opportunity for an engineering technician, junior engineer or technically experienced individual looking to move into project engineering.

We particularly welcome applications from serving Armed Forces personnel preparing to transition into civilian employment and veterans with transferable engineering experience.

You do not need to have previously held the title of Project Engineer. If you have a strong technical background, practical engineering knowledge and the ambition to develop your career, we would like to hear from you.

The employer is willing to invest in developing the right candidate's specialist knowledge and technical capabilities.

The Role

Working alongside experienced engineers and technical specialists, you will support the planning, coordination and delivery of engineering projects for customers operating in highly technical industries.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Supporting engineering projects from initial technical requirements through to completion.

• Reviewing and interpreting engineering drawings, specifications and technical documentation.

• Assisting with project planning, scheduling and coordination of engineering activities.

• Working closely with engineering, manufacturing and production teams to support project delivery.

• Supporting the development and improvement of engineering processes and technical solutions.

• Helping identify and resolve technical challenges during project delivery.

• Preparing and maintaining project documentation, technical records and progress reports.

• Supporting quality assurance, testing and inspection activities.

• Developing knowledge of specialist coating technologies, vacuum systems and precision engineering processes.

• Ensuring engineering activities meet relevant health, safety, quality and customer requirements.

You will have the opportunity to develop your project engineering skills while gaining exposure to specialist technologies and complex manufacturing processes.

Skills and Experience

We are looking for someone with a solid technical foundation and the motivation to develop into a successful Project Engineer.

Ideally, you will have:

• A background in mechanical, electrical, manufacturing or a related engineering discipline.

• Practical engineering experience gained through employment, an apprenticeship or military service.

• The ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and technical specifications.

• An understanding of mechanical or electrical systems, equipment or manufacturing processes.

• Good fault-finding, analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

• The ability to communicate effectively with engineers, technicians and other departments.

• A willingness to learn new technologies and develop technical competencies.

• A structured approach to working safely and maintaining quality standards.

Experience with CAD software, project coordination, precision manufacturing, vacuum systems or specialist coating technologies would be advantageous, but is not essential for candidates with suitable transferable skills.

Armed Forces and Military Transition Candidates

We recognise that many serving personnel and veterans have developed extensive engineering knowledge and practical technical experience without necessarily holding civilian engineering qualifications or project management job titles.

We are particularly interested in candidates from backgrounds such as:

Royal Navy

• Marine Engineering Technicians

• Weapon Engineering Technicians

• Electrical and Mechanical Engineering personnel

• Engineering personnel experienced in complex equipment, maintenance and technical systems

British Army

• REME Vehicle Mechanics

• Electronics Technicians

• Aircraft Technicians

• Mechanical and Electrical Engineering trades

• Technical maintenance and engineering support personnel

Royal Air Force

• Aircraft Technicians (Mechanical)

• Aircraft Technicians (Avionics)

• Electrical and Mechanical Technicians

• Engineering maintenance and technical support personnel

Your experience in technical problem-solving, engineering documentation, equipment reliability, fault diagnosis and working within safety-critical environments could provide an excellent foundation for this role.

You may be new to civilian project engineering, but that does not mean you are new to engineering.

We are interested in the technical skills and experience you can bring, not simply your previous job title.

Training and Career Progression

The company operates within a highly specialised engineering environment and understands that candidates may not already possess experience in every technology used within the business.

Training and development opportunities will allow you to build knowledge in areas including:

• Specialist engineering and manufacturing processes.

• Vacuum and coating technologies.

• Engineering project coordination and delivery.

• Technical documentation and quality requirements.

• Customer specifications and specialist industry standards.

As your technical knowledge and project responsibilities develop, there is potential to progress into a Project Engineer and subsequently a Senior Project Engineer position.

This opportunity is particularly suited to someone seeking a long-term engineering career rather than simply their next job.

Military Resettlement Opportunities

For serving personnel approaching their Armed Forces leaving date, the employer may also be able to consider a structured resettlement placement.

This would provide an opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the working environment, understand the specialist technologies involved and demonstrate your transferable engineering skills.

Placements would be subject to individual suitability, employer availability and the relevant military resettlement arrangements.

What the Opportunity Offers

• Competitive starting salary of £30,000-£36,000, depending on experience.

• Permanent, full-time employment.

• 37.5-hour working week.

• Specialist technical training and development.

• Exposure to engineering projects across defence, space and advanced manufacturing.

• Opportunities to develop project engineering and technical coordination skills.

• A potential long-term progression pathway into more senior engineering positions.

• An opportunity for military engineers and technicians to transition into a specialist civilian engineering career.

Additional Information

Due to the nature of some customer projects, applicants may be required to meet the eligibility criteria for UK security clearance.