Mechanical Design Engineer

Reed; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Reed in Ipswich is seeking an experienced Mechanical Design Engineer to join our growing engineering team. You will take designs from concept through to manufacture, build, test and customer commissioning, focusing on bespoke machinery rather than component-level design.

You will design machinery and capital equipment using SolidWorks, produce detailed 3D models and drawings, create BOMs, and collaborate with manufacturing, purchasing and customers.

Qualifications

• Must have experience designing machinery, automation or capital equipment.
• Strong SolidWorks skills with 3D modelling, large assemblies and detailed drawings.
• Experience with parametric and configurable design.
• Ability to manage projects from concept through to detailed design and manufacture.
• Knowledge of materials, engineering calculations and tolerance stack-ups.
• Experience in bespoke, low-volume manufacturing environments.
• Excellent communication and cross-department collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Design bespoke machinery and capital equipment using SolidWorks.
• Produce detailed 3D models, large assemblies and drawings.
• Develop designs from customer specifications through to production.
• Create and maintain bills of materials and engineering documentation.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, purchasing and external customers.
• Support machine build, testing and commissioning activities.
• Contribute to continuous improvement and configurable design methodologies.

Skills

SolidWorks

GD&T

Tolerance stack-ups

DFMA

Project management

3D modelling

Education

HNC/HND or Degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks PDM

ERP/MRP BOM management

Job description

We are currently seeking an experienced Mechanical Design Engineer to join our clients growing engineering team.

This is an exciting opportunity to work on complex, engineered–to–order machinery, taking designs from initial concept through to manufacture, build, testing and customer commissioning. The role is ideal for someone who enjoys seeing a project through its full lifecycle rather than focusing solely on component–level design.

The Role

You will be responsible for:

• Designing bespoke machinery and capital equipment using SolidWorks.
• Producing detailed 3D models, large assemblies and manufacturing drawings.
• Developing designs from customer specifications and concept stage through to production.
• Creating and maintaining bills of materials and engineering documentation.
• Working closely with manufacturing, purchasing and external customers.
• Supporting machine build, testing and commissioning activities.
• Contributing to continuous improvement and configurable design methodologies.

Essential Requirements

• Proven experience designing machinery, automation equipment or capital equipment.
• Strong SolidWorks skills, including:
  
  • 3D modelling
  • Large assemblies
  • Detailed manufacturing drawings
  • GD&T, tolerancing and engineering drawing standards
• Experience with parametric and configurable design techniques.
• Ability to manage projects from concept through to detailed design and manufacture.
• Sound understanding of:
  
  • Material selection
  • Engineering calculations
  • Tolerance stack–ups
  • Design for Manufacture & Assembly (DFMA)
• Comfortable working within a bespoke, low–volume manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication skills and willingness to work collaboratively across departments.

Highly Desirable Experience

Candidates with experience in any of the following will have a distinct advantage:

• Web handling or roll handling machinery
• Slitting, rewinding, coating or laminating equipment
• Pneumatic systems integration
• Materials handling or packaging machinery
• Hydraulic systems
• Converting industry processes
• SolidWorks PDM or similar document control systems
• ERP/MRP–driven BOM management
• Awareness of electrical, controls and drive systems

Qualifications

• HNC/HND, Degree, or equivalent experience in Mechanical, Manufacturing or related Engineering discipline.

About You

You are a hands–on engineer who takes ownership of your designs and enjoys seeing them become reality. You thrive in a collaborative environment, communicate effectively with both technical and non–technical stakeholders, and take pride in delivering machinery that performs successfully in the field.

If you're looking for a role where you can make a genuine impact on bespoke engineering projects from concept to commissioning, we'd like to hear from you.