Lead Design Engineer

Marshall Harmony; Dudley; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25.5 days holiday plus bank holidays

Pension

Health cover

Death in service benefit

Training and recognition schemes

Bonus potential

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in Dudley is seeking a Lead Design Engineer to take ownership of the design process from concept to completion. You will work with CAD tools such as Inventor and Fusion360, directly interfacing with customers and transforming their ideas into functional designs. This role offers a competitive salary of up to £50,000 and a comprehensive benefits package, along with clear progression paths toward management or senior engineering roles.

Qualifications

• Confidence working with tolerances and detailed drawings.
• A practical understanding of manufacturing processes such as sheet metal, machining, and fabrication.
• Strong 3D CAD skills, whether that’s Inventor, Fusion360 or SolidWorks.
• A natural way with customers, turning their ideas into something real.

Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of the design process from initial concept to completion.
• Manage the PLM system and maintain accurate BOMs.
• Work directly with customers to interpret ideas and deliver designs.

Skills

Working with tolerances and detailed drawings

Practical understanding of manufacturing processes

Strong 3D CAD skills (Inventor, Fusion360, SolidWorks)

Customer interaction and ideas translation

Tools

Inventor

Fusion360

SolidWorks

Job description

Lead Design Engineer

This range is provided by Marshall Harmony. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Right now, all design work is being outsourced which means as Lead Design Engineer you’ll be stepping into a blank canvas. The tools are ready, the support is there, and the space is yours to make your own.

You’ll take full ownership of the design process from initial concept sketches through to completion. That means understanding complex tolerancing, translating ideas into manufacturable solutions, and shaping how the factory layout comes together.

You’ll also manage the PLM system, maintain accurate BOMs and take full responsibility for the design function. It’s not a leadership role just yet, but it could be. The plan is to grow into a small team of two once the foundations are in place and you’ll be the one who builds those foundations.

So who’s this Lead Design Engineer role really for? Maybe you’re working in a larger organisation where progression has hit a ceiling. You’ve gained solid experience but you’re itching to take on more ownership, more influence, more autonomy. Or perhaps you’re in a smaller business already handling end-to-end design work but now you want to join somewhere more structured, where your work gets the backing and visibility it deserves. Either way, this is your moment to step up.

You’ll use Inventor and Fusion360, though SolidWorks experience is easily transferable, to create detailed 3D models and technical drawings. But it’s not just about software. It’s about seeing a design through every stage of its journey. From paper sketch to fully functioning product, you’ll understand how things fit, how they move, and how they work.

There’s variety too. The designs here are used across a wide range of industries, so no two days or projects will feel the same. You’ll work directly with customers to interpret ideas, solve problems, and deliver designs that not only look right but perform beautifully.

Qualifications

• Confidence working with tolerances and detailed drawings
• A practical understanding of manufacturing processes such as sheet metal, machining, and fabrication
• Strong 3D CAD skills, whether that’s Inventor, Fusion360 or SolidWorks
• A natural way with customers, turning their ideas into something real

The salary is up to £50,000 depending on experience, along with a benefits package that includes 25.5 days holiday plus bank holidays, pension, health cover, death in service, proper training, recognition schemes and bonus potential.

And most importantly, there’s genuine progression here. Whether you see yourself developing into management or becoming a top-level Engineer, the path is mapped out.

Seniority level

• Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

• Full‑time

Job function

• Design and Engineering

Industries

• Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing and Engineering Services

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Before this retention period expires, Marshall Harmony will contact me to ask whether I wish my data to remain on file within their talent pool.