Mechanical Design Engineer

Holt Engineering; England; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free onsite parking

Changing facilities

Ongoing technical development

Job summary

Holt Engineering in Poole, Dorset, seeks a Mechanical Design Engineer to lead concepts through delivery for bespoke equipment. You’ll produce 3D models and detailed drawings using SolidWorks and AutoCAD, perform beam and steel calculations, and support structural analysis and FEA development.

The role blends hands-on design with client liaison and manufacturing support, with product development from concept to prototype and release. Training is provided.

Qualifications

• 3+ years experience as Mechanical/Structural Design Engineer or similar.
• Degree, HNC/HND or equivalent in Mechanical or Structural Engineering.
• Strong experience with SolidWorks.
• Strong AutoCAD capability.
• Able to produce detailed manufacturing and fabrication drawings.
• Experience with beam analysis, force calculations and steel stress calculations.
• Confident managing multiple projects and priorities.
• Good communication with customers, suppliers and internal teams.

Responsibilities

• Take customer enquiries and projects from concept through to completion.
• Produce detailed designs, specifications, BOMs, GA and fabrication drawings.
• Use SolidWorks and AutoCAD across bespoke mechanical and structural applications.
• Apply beam analysis and steel stress calculations; develop FEA capability.
• Collaborate with customers, suppliers, Project Management and factory teams.
• Produce technical files and supporting engineering information.
• Support new product development from concept through prototype and release.

Skills

3+ years experience

Strong communication skills

Project management

Education

Degree or HNC/HND in Mechanical/Structural Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

Job description

Mechanical Design Engineer

Poole, Dorset

Mechanical Design Engineer salary: £35,500 – £44,750

Please note: only applicants with the full-time, permanent right to work in the UK will be considered.

Mechanical Design Engineer Overview

• Take customer enquiries and engineering projects from concept through to completion
• Produce detailed designs, specifications, BOMs, GA and fabrication drawings
• Use SolidWorks and AutoCAD across bespoke mechanical and structural applications
• Apply beam analysis, force calculations, steel stress calculations and develop FEA capability
• Work closely with customers, suppliers, Project Management and the factory team

This Mechanical Design Engineer role is with an established engineering design and manufacturing business in Poole, producing bespoke equipment for demanding industrial applications.

The Mechanical Design Engineer will work across customer enquiries, detailed design, structural calculations, technical documentation and product development. Product-specific training will be provided, so direct lifting-equipment experience is highly advantageous rather than essential.

The Mechanical Design Engineer role

As Mechanical Design Engineer, you’ll take projects from initial customer requirement through design, manufacture and final delivery. You’ll produce detailed engineering information, liaise directly with customers and support the Project Management and manufacturing teams when design challenges arise.

The role combines hands‑on mechanical design with structural engineering principles, making it well suited to someone who enjoys technically varied project work rather than repetitive product design.

Day‑to‑day responsibilities of a Mechanical Design Engineer

• Prepare design briefs, detailed specifications and Bills of Materials
• Produce 3D models and detailed drawings using SolidWorks and AutoCAD
• Create fabrication drawings, set‑out drawings and General Arrangement drawings
• Select suitable materials, sections and components for each application
• Carry out beam analysis, force calculations and steel stress calculations
• Develop capability in structural analysis and FEA
• Take customer projects and technical enquiries from concept through to completion
• Liaise with customers throughout longer projects and provide progress updates
• Support Project Management and factory teams with design and manufacturing issues
• Produce technical files, user documentation and supporting engineering information
• Work with suppliers, subcontractors and internal departments
• Support new product development from concept through prototype and release
• Attend remote or onsite customer meetings where required

What they’re looking for - Mechanical Design Engineer

• Around 3+ years’ experience as a Mechanical Design Engineer, Structural Design Engineer or similar
• Degree, HNC/HND or equivalent experience in Mechanical or Structural Engineering
• Strong SolidWorks experience
• Strong AutoCAD capability
• Able to produce detailed manufacturing and fabrication drawings
• Experience with beam analysis, force calculations and steel stress calculations
• Confident taking technical projects from initial enquiry through to completion
• Able to manage multiple projects and changing priorities
• Strong communication skills with customers, suppliers and internal teams
• Comfortable supporting manufacturing teams directly when design issues arise
• Willingness to develop knowledge of specialist lifting standards and structural analysis

Desirable - Mechanical Design Engineer

• Lifting equipment or heavy engineering design experience
• FEA or 3D structural analysis experience
• Steelwork, structural fabrication or welded assembly design
• Experience designing bespoke engineered products
• Background in sectors such as nuclear, marine, offshore, wind energy or construction
• Customer-facing technical project experience

What’s on offer - Mechanical Design Engineer

• Mechanical Design Engineer salary: £35,500 – £44,750
• Free onsite parking, changing facilities and ongoing technical development.
• A varied Mechanical Design Engineer role with the opportunity to become a specialist in a technically demanding niche engineering sector.