Mechanical Design Engineer

React Recruitment Limited; Chatham; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

React Recruitment Limited is seeking a Chartered Mechanical Design Engineer to lead multi‑million‑pound industrial projects across the UK and overseas. The role is office‑based in Maidstone, Kent with occasional travel, and requires strong 3D plant layout, FE A, and piping experience.

Applicants should hold a BEng/MEng/MSc in Mechanical Engineering and CEng status, with a minimum of five years of post‑graduate design experience and a full UK driving license. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Qualifications

• BEng (Hons), MEng or MSc in Mechanical Engineering (or a closely related discipline).
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status via a recognised professional institution.
• Minimum 5 years of post‑graduate mechanical design experience in an industrial, manufacturing, or process engineering environment.
• Full UK driving license and willingness to travel to UK client sites with occasional overseas travel.
• Full, unrestricted right to work in the UK (Visa sponsorship not available for this role).

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical engineering designs from concept through fabrication and site installation.
• Produce high‑quality 2D/3D layouts, equipment arrangements, skids, and piping isometrics.
• Perform FEA and piping stress analyses to validate performance.
• Conduct site surveys and 3D laser scanning, and coordinate with clients and suppliers.
• Provide mentorship and design reviews for junior engineers.

Skills

Chartered Engineer (CEng)

5+ years post‑graduate experience

Autodesk AutoCAD 2D

Inventor

AutoCAD Plant 3D

ROHR2

CAESAR II

Nastran

ANSYS

Full UK driving license

Education

BEng (Hons) / MEng / MSc in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD 2D

Inventor

AutoCAD Plant 3D

ROHR2

CAESAR II

Nastran

ANSYS

Navisworks

Revit

Trimble / ReCap

Job description

Job Title: Chartered Mechanical Design Engineer

Location: Maidstone, Kent - Office based with UK and occasional overseas travel

Salary: Competitive (Dependent on experience)

Job Type: Full time, Permanent

Sector: Engineering Consultancy, Process and Manufacturing

Chartered Mechanical Design Engineer

Are you a Chartered Mechanical Engineer looking for a technically challenging role where you can lead projects from concept to reality? Do you thrive on diversity, designing complex systems across industries like pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, and food & beverage?

This is an exceptional opportunity to utilize your advanced mechanical engineering expertise, 3D plant layout skills, and analytical capabilities on a wide range of multi-million-pound industrial portfolios across the UK and overseas.

Essential Requirements:

• BEng (Hons), MEng, or MSc in Mechanical Engineering (or a closely related discipline).
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status via a recognized professional institution.
• Minimum 5 years of post‑graduate mechanical design experience within an industrial, manufacturing, or process engineering environment.
• Advanced proficiency with Autodesk packages (AutoCAD 2D, Inventor, AutoCAD Plant 3D).
• Demonstrated capability in piping stress analysis (ROHR2, CAESAR II, or equivalent) and FEA (Nastran, ANSYS, or equivalent).
• Full UK driving license and willingness to travel to UK client sites with occasional overseas travel.
• Full, unrestricted right to work in the UK (Visa sponsorship is not available for this role).

Desirable (But Not Essential):

• Experience with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) using ANSYS Fluent.
• Familiarity with Autodesk Navisworks for clash detection or Autodesk Revit.
• Hands‑on experience processing point‑cloud data via Trimble tools or Autodesk ReCap.
• Familiarity with international engineering standards such as ASME B31.3 and EN 13480.

Key Responsibilities:

Full Lifecycle Design: Lead mechanical engineering designs from early feasibility and concept development through to detailed fabrication and site installation.

• Advanced Modelling: Produce high‑quality 2D/3D engineering layouts, equipment arrangements, structural access skids, and piping isometric drawings.
• Technical Analysis: Perform finite element analysis (FEA) and piping stress analysis to validate structural and system performance.
• Site Surveying & Scanning: Conduct site surveys and inspections using advanced 3D laser scanning and point‑cloud technology.
• Stakeholder Coordination: Liaise directly with clients, suppliers, fabricators, and internal multidisciplinary teams to ensure flawless project delivery.
• Team Guidance: Provide mentorship, technical guidance, and quality design reviews for junior engineers within the team.