Lead Mechanical Design Engineer – Aerospace & UAS

Randstad Digital; England; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Randstad Digital is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer (Aerospace) to provide technical leadership and hands-on design for next-generation unmanned aerial systems. You will lead multidisciplinary challenges from concept through integration, manufacturing and testing.

You will drive aerostructures, integrate payloads and propulsion, and apply DFX standards while adhering to rigorous engineering practices and safety requirements.

Qualifications

• Experience leading multidisciplinary design from concept to integration.
• Proficient in SolidWorks with BOM creation.
• Strong understanding of aerostructures and aircraft systems.
• Familiarity with DFX principles and GD&T standards.

Responsibilities

• CAD Design & Modeling: Lead day-to-day 3D CAD modeling, complex surfacing, assembly management, BOM creation in SolidWorks.
• Aerostructural Integration: Design, evaluate and optimize airframe structures including fuselages, wings, landing gear, internal framing.
• Engineering Analysis: Conduct first-pass FEA and CFD studies within CAD suites to validate concepts.
• Propulsion & Payload Integration: Integrate all-electric propulsion systems and mission payloads, assess impact on performance and weight.
• Prototyping & Manufacturing: Identify manufacturing processes and materials for metallic and composite components.
• Design Standards & Quality: Apply DFX/DFMA and perform tolerance analysis per BS 8888 and GD&T.
• Systems Engineering & Safety Docs: Author specs, CONOPS, DFMEAs, commissioning plans, risk assessments.
• Technical Work Package Mgmt: Lead WPs, manage tasks, schedules, budgets, risks.
• Supplier & Stakeholder Liaison: Act as technical lead for suppliers and internal teams.

Skills

CAD Design

Aerostructural design

FEA analysis

CFD analysis

Propulsion integration

Payload integration

DFX & DFMA

GD&T standards

Technical documentation

Project leadership

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Randstad Digital is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer (Aerospace) to provide technical leadership and hands-on design for next-generation unmanned aerial systems. You will lead multidisciplinary challenges from concept through integration, manufacturing and testing.

You will drive aerostructures, integrate payloads and propulsion, and apply DFX standards while adhering to rigorous engineering practices and safety requirements.