Lead Mechanical Engineer in Basildon

Energy Jobline ZR; Basildon; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace and defence company is seeking a Lead Mechanical Engineer to drive technical solutions in missile seeker products at their Basildon site. This hybrid role offers opportunities for UK and overseas travel. The ideal candidate will possess an upper second-class degree in Mechanical Engineering and experience in design for harsh environments. Benefits include flexible working hours, generous pension contributions, and access to mental health support.

Benefits

Generous leave with flexi-days

Pension scheme up to 15% employer contribution

Mental health support

Bonus scheme for eligible employees

Access to online courses through Coursera and LinkedIn Learning

Financial reward for referrals

Flexible benefits spend

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Minimum upper second-class degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience.
• Experienced in the design of systems for harsh environments.
• Proficient in mechanical design using 3D CAD tools.

Responsibilities

• Deliver technical solutions on critical business programmes.
• Ensure compliance of engineering solutions through the lifecycle.
• Mentor less experienced peers in the team.

Skills

Mechanical engineering for electronic and/or EO products

Experience in harsh environments

3D CAD tools expertise

Understanding of structural and thermal analyses

DfX knowledge

Education

Upper second-class degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience

MEng in Mechanical Engineering (preferred)

Tools

PTC Creo

Mathworks

PTC Simulate

Job description

Job Description

Do you want to be a key member of the Team developing the next of Missile Seeker Products? As a Lead Mechanical Engineer within our Integrated Sensing and Protection function, you will be responsible for the technical delivery of mechanical solutions across several programmes within the Precision Guidance domain: ranging from low Technology Readiness Level research tasks through to in-service systems being delivered to our partners in the UK and beyond.

Based at our Basildon site, working on a hybrid basis. The role offers the opportunity for ad hoc UK and overseas travel where you will engage with Customers, End-Users and sub-contractors.

Responsibilities

• Support the Project Team in the delivery of technical solutions on critical Business programmes, ensuring Mechanical Engineering excellence.
• Compliance of Mechanical Engineering solutions through the entire Engineering Lifecycle, ensuring that the solutions consider all requirements including product quality, safety, reliability, testability, sustainability, etc.
• Inception, research and development of mechanical solutions and techniques that enable the team to advance the state of the art for Missile Seekers. This might range from new product capabilities through to manufacturing techniques that allow operation in more extreme environments or allow a step-change reduction in unit cost.
• Mechanical Engineering detailed design; including numerical calculations, tolerance studies, etc.
• Produce Manufacturing Data Packs in line with BS8888, including appropriate use of GD&T.
• Support successful resolution of technical problem investigations.
• Contribute to reviews of mechanical designs in accordance with business and industry standards.
• Hands on involvement in practical implementation of development builds and Design of Experiments.
• Provide support during the introduction of new product into the Development/Production lifecycle phase.
• Actively manage work package delivery elements to achieve desired quality, schedule and cost.
• Mentor less experienced peers with the Mechanical Engineering team.

Required qualifications

• A minimum of an upper second-class degree in Mechanical Engineering (or similar), or equivalent experience in the field of Defence, Airborne or naval environments.
• Mechanical engineering for electronic and/or EO products.
• Experience in the design of systems for harsh environments i.e. Shock, Vibration, Temperature, EMC, Salt fog, etc.
• Expertise of Mechanical design and Product development using 3D CAD tools (ideally PTC Creo).
• An understanding Structural and Thermal Analyses data, to inform design decisions.
• Experience in various aspects of DfX, including Manufacturing, Assembly, Test, Integration and Sustainability.

Preferred qualifications

• MEng in Mechanical Engineering (or similar).
• Experience within the IR spectrum for EO Systems.
• Demonstrable knowledge of airborne Products.
• Experience in Model Based Design methods and tools (i.e. Mathworks).
• The capability of producing first pass (structural and thermal) analyses to determine if a design is fit-for-purpose i.e. using PTC Simulate, flow or similar.
• Awareness of Mechanical Engineering industry trends - knowledge of new and advancing tools, techniques and technologies.

Security clearance

This role is subject to pre-employment screening in line with the UK Government's Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit the security page at https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security.

Why join us

• Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.
• Secure your Future: Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led networks championing and supporting diversity.
• Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
• Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
• Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
• Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.

Location

Primary Location: GB - Basildon
Contract Type: Permanent
Hybrid Working: Hybrid

Additional information

Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team—they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety. At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.