Mechanical Design Engineer

Blue Bear Systems Group Ltd; Oakley; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Saab UK in Bedfordshire is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer to lead multidisciplinary design challenges for unmanned systems. You will provide technical leadership across requirement management, design, integration, manufacturing and testing. Some travel within the UK may be required.

The role emphasizes CAD design, engineering analysis, material selection and DFMEA development, with close customer collaboration and support for programme management.

Qualifications

• Degree/HND in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• Experience with SolidWorks, including modelling, surfacing, assemblies and BoM creation.
• Experience producing engineering drawings and documentation to standards.
• Experience supporting product development from concept through to test.
• Ability to perform first-pass engineering analysis (FEA/CFD).
• Knowledge of materials for metallic/composite components.
• Understanding DFMA principles.
• Experience developing prototypes and integration/testing.
• Ability to translate customer requirements into engineering solutions.

Responsibilities

• Perform day-to-day CAD design activities across aerospace projects.
• Support delivery of work packages against schedule, cost and risk.
• Contribute to design, integration, verification, and test activities.
• Develop concepts and designs using CAE, CAD, CAM tools.
• Select materials and manufacturing methods for composites and metals.
• Assist payload and propulsion system integration including eVTOL considerations.
• Prepare engineering documentation, DFMEAs, and risk assessments.
• Engage with customers to understand requirements.
• Support programme management, estimating and planning.

Skills

Mechanical design

Multidisciplinary design

DFMA knowledge

Customer requirements translation

Engineering analysis (FEM/CFD)

Education

Degree/HND in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

CAE/CAM tools

Job description

Introduction Saab UK is part of Scandinavia’s largest defence company, bringing together the best of Swedish and British innovation. Saab offers world-leading solutions and services in defence, aviation, space, and civil security to keep people and society safe. Our UK presence has been growing at pace, meaning we can offer a wide range of opportunities for personal fulfilment and career growth. We currently employ over 600 people across eight sites in the UK, and our specialisations include software engineering, underwater robotics, radars, AI, and armed forces training. What you will be part of Saab is a leading defence and security company with an enduring purpose, to help nations keep their people and society safe. Empowered by its 28,000 talented people, Saab constantly pushes the boundaries of technology to create a safer and more sustainable world. Saab designs, manufactures and maintains advanced systems in aeronautics, weapons, command and control, sensors and underwater systems. Saab is headquartered in Sweden. It has major operations all over the world and is part of the domestic defence capability of several nations.

The Role

This role is part of the Saab UK Bluebear Business based in Bedfordshire. Your role as a Mechanical Design Engineer will be to support Head of Engineering on multidisciplinary design challenges involved in the development of unmanned systems. This represents an exciting opportunity to provide technical leadership of innovative products including requirement management, design, integration, manufacturing and testing. Some travel within the UK may be required for this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform day-to-day CAD design activities and manage multidisciplinary design requirements across aerospace development projects
• Support the delivery of assigned work packages, ensuring progress against schedule, cost and risk objectives
• Contribute to design, integration, verification, and test activities throughout the product development lifecycle
• Develop innovative product concepts, prototypes, & designs using CAE, CAD, & CAM tools
• Select materials and manufacturing methods for composite and metallic aerospace components
• Support payload & propulsion system integration activities, including all-electric propulsion & eVTOL applications, while working with aircraft concepts team to assess aircraft performance impacts & contributing to aircraft-level optimisation
• Prepare and maintain engineering documentation, specifications, DFMEAs, and risk assessments
• Engage with customers to understand requirements and apply emerging technologies where appropriate
• Assist programme management activities, including estimating, planning, dependency management and progress tracking

Required Qualifications/Skills

• Degree/HND in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, or other related engineering discipline
• Experience using SolidWorks including solid modelling, surfacing, assemblies, detailing and BoM creation
• Experience producing engineering drawings and technical documentation to recognised standards
• Experience supporting product development from concept through detailed design, manufacture, assembly and test
• Ability to perform first-pass engineering analysis (basic FEA & CFD) to support design decisions
• Understanding of material selection and manufacturing processes for metallic and composite components
• Understanding of Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFMA) principles
• Experience developing prototypes and supporting integration and testing activities
• Ability to understand and translate customer requirements into engineering solutions

Desired Qualifications/Skills

• Experience within the aerospace, UAV, defence, space, or advanced air mobility sectors

At Saab, you'll be empowered to make a real difference. Join colleagues worldwide who share one purpose – keeping people and society safe through innovative defence and security solutions. What makes that difference possible? You. We're a global leader in air, land and naval defence, civil security and commercial aeronautics, with approximately 28,000 employees across all continents. Our transformative approach combines deep expertise with continuous innovation – investing one-fifth of our earnings in research and development to solve tomorrow's challenges today. But technology alone doesn't create safety. Your perspective, your skills, your contribution – that's what transforms possibility into reality. Here, diversity strengthens everything we do. You'll find unlimited opportunities to advance your career whilst maintaining balance in your life beyond work.

Saab is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer – all qualified individuals are encouraged to apply and will be considered without regard to race, colour, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran or disability status.