Lead Design Engineer

FLUID TRANSFER INTERNATIONAL LIMITED; Bradley Stoke; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

On-site parking

Company pension

Life insurance

21-23 days annual leave plus holidays

Health and wellbeing support

Discount portal

Job summary

Fluid Transfer International is seeking a Lead Mechanical Design Engineer to lead design, development and continuous improvement of aircraft refuelling vehicles and equipment. Management a small team of Mechanical and Electrical Designers within the engineering team.

Working closely with Production, Purchasing, Sales and Project Management, you will take projects from initial concept through to manufacture and delivery.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in mechanical/production engineering.
• Experience in a mechanical design role within manufacturing or engineering.
• Proficiency with 2D/3D CAD tools (Inventor/AutoCAD).
• Experience with CAD data management (Vault or similar).
• Knowledge of sheet metal design, welding and GD&T.
• Knowledge of hydraulic, pneumatic and fluid transfer systems.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop aircraft refuelling vehicles and related equipment.
• Create 3D models and manufacturing drawings, electrical schematics as needed.
• Improve existing designs for performance and manufacturability.
• Interpret customer specs and prepare proposals and tender docs.
• Create BOMs and liaise with Sales, Purchasing, Production and Quality teams.
• Support prototype builds, testing and validation; manage design projects end-to-end.
• Provide technical support to manufacturing and ensure compliance with standards.

Skills

3D CAD

Autodesk Inventor

AutoCAD

GD&T

Hydraulics

Pneumatics

Communication

Microsoft Office

Education

HNC/HND in Mechanical/Production Engineering

BEng/MEng in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Autodesk Vault

Job description

Lead Mechanical Design Engineer – Aviation Refuelling Systems

Location: Nailsworth, Stroud

Salary: £45,000 - £55,000 (DOE)

Hours: Monday to Friday, 08:30 - 17:00

About Fluid Transfer International

Fluid Transfer International is a leading manufacturer of world-class aviation refuelling systems. From our dedicated facility in Nailsworth, we design, develop, and manufacture market-leading aircraft refuelling vehicles and equipment for commercial airports, military organisations, and global fuel suppliers.

Our reputation is built on quality, innovation, reliability, and engineering excellence. As our business continues to grow, we are looking for a talented Lead Mechanical Design Engineer to join our engineering team.

The Role

As a Lead Mechanical Design Engineer, you will play a key role in the design, development, and continuous improvement of our specialist aircraft refuelling vehicles and associated equipment. Management a small team of Mechanical and Electrical Designers within the companies engineering team. Working closely with Production, Purchasing, Sales, and Project Management, you will take projects from initial concept through to manufacture and delivery.

This is an excellent opportunity for an engineer looking to develop their skills within a highly specialised industry while working on technically challenging projects with an international customer base.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop aircraft refuelling vehicles and associated equipment.
• Produce accurate 3D models, technical drawings, manufacturing drawings, and electrical schematics using Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD.
• Modify and improve existing product designs to enhance performance, manufacturability, and reliability.
• Interpret customer specifications and produce engineering proposals and tender documentation.
• Select appropriate components and create Bills of Materials (BOMs).
• Liaise with Sales, Purchasing, Production, and Quality teams throughout the design process.
• Support prototype builds, testing, commissioning, and product validation activities.
• Assist with project design management from concept through to final delivery.
• Provide technical support to the manufacturing team.
• Ensure designs comply with relevant engineering standards, customer requirements, and company quality procedures.

About You

You will have a strong mechanical engineering background and enjoy solving practical engineering challenges. You will be organised, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple projects while maintaining high standards of accuracy.

Essential Requirements

• HNC/HND in Mechanical or Production Engineering, or a BEng/MEng in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent).
• Previous experience in a mechanical design role within a manufacturing or engineering environment.
• Proficiency in 2D and 3D CAD software, particularly Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD.
• Experience with Autodesk Vault or similar CAD data management systems.
• Good understanding of sheet metal design, fabrication, welding, and Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T).
• Knowledge of hydraulic, pneumatic, and fluid transfer systems.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Competent with Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to prioritise workload and work effectively to deadlines.

Desirable Skills

• Experience of electrical design and schematic creation.
• Knowledge of PLC systems or programming (training can be provided).
• Experience within the automotive, aerospace, defence, or special-purpose vehicle industries.
• Familiarity with project management principles and engineering change processes.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary of £45,000 - £55,000 depending on experience.
• Ongoing professional development.
• Opportunity to work on industry-leading aviation equipment.
• Exposure to electrical and control system design.
• Genuine opportunities for career progression within a growing international business.
• 23 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Increasing to 24 days after 5 years' service
• Increasing to 25 days after 10 years' service
• Company pension scheme
• Life insurance
• Free on-site parking
• Company Benefits Portal offering Discount and Health and Wellbeing Support
• Electric Car Scheme

• If you're looking for a varied engineering role where you'll see your designs become real-world products used around the globe, we'd love to hear from you.