Mechanical Design Lead

JR United Kingdom; Northampton; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 86,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading defense company is seeking a Mechanical Design Lead to develop next-generation radar systems. The role involves applying mechanical engineering principles and leading engineering teams. Candidates should have expertise in structure analysis and CAD tools. This position offers flexible working arrangements and opportunities for professional growth within a global business.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

Flexible discounted health benefits

Annual incentive

Private health plans

Shopping discounts

Qualifications

• Expert knowledge in Mechanical Engineering with focus on structures.
• Ability to translate concepts into production-ready designs.
• Experience leading complex system designs.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering teams and manage costs associated with team activities.
• Deliver solutions to meet programme and customer requirements.
• Interface with customers and suppliers to support engineering activities.

Skills

Mechanical Engineering: Structures

Finite Element Analysis

CAD

Mechanical Engineering Analysis

Large scale complex system designs

Lifecycle models (Waterfall, Agile)

Education

Higher education in relevant STEM discipline

Chartered Engineer status or working towards

Tools

Mechanical Engineering Modelling Tools

Job description

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Location: Cowes– Isle of Wight or Broad Oak. We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements – please speak to your recruiter about the options for this particular role.

Salary: Up to £85,700 depending on skills and experience. Part time & accruing hours available. Please let us know if you would like to discuss these options

Put yourself into a dynamic Mechanical Design Lead role at the forefront of real world demands in the defence industry. Alongside ensuring operational excellence for our existing products, there will be the opportunity to develop next generation radar products to counter emerging threats and contribution to our strategy for new technology. Your new day-to-day will be exciting and diverse by applying the principles of Engineering across the entire engineering development lifecycle as you join in developing radar systems used by those who serve and protect us.

What you’ll be doing:

Provide a depth and breadth of expert knowledge gained through substantial work experience to apply principles and concepts of systems engineering, ISO 15288 and own specialist mechanical engineering expertise to development or problem resolution of a complex shipborne structure with integrated sensor configurations

Provide technical and business leadership and may lead several engineering teams, including management and possible control of costs associated with the team activity

Analyse, define, evaluate, plan and deliver solutions to meet programme, business and customer requirements

Interface with customers, suppliers and other functions and will act as an ambassador for engineering to these groups

Assist with development of engineering capability and skills and monitor professional development of engineers to meet future discipline requirements

Your skills and experiences:

Subject matter expertise in Mechanical Engineering: Structures and Finite Element Analysis (particularly Static and Dynamic Shock and Vibration) or equivalent experience

Ability to generate requirements and translate concepts into production-ready designs

Relevant experience/knowledge of CAD and Mechanical Engineering Analysis, Modelling and Simulation tools

Experience of leading large scale complex system designs

Experience of multiple aspects of an engineering lifecycle and expert knowledge of lifecycle models (e.g. Waterfall, Agile)

Higher education (or equivalent experience) in a relevant STEM discipline

Achieved Chartered Engineer status or be working towards

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts – you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.

The Radar Systems Engineering team:

The Mechanical Design Lead is a subject matter expert in Mechanical Engineering, responsible for the conceptual development of future shipborne integrated mast structures designed to house multiple radars, sensors, communications systems, and ship services.

This role is a fantastic opportunity to enhance your skills and invest in your career journey within a global business. You will be supported in growing your knowledge in contemporary and cutting-edge Radar techniques, with opportunities to develop your skills and responsibilities in technical leadership.

In this role, you will be able to enjoy both flexible and hybrid working arrangements.

Our workplace in Cowes is an easily accessible commute from Southampton with a regular foot passenger ferry and BAE shuttle service from the ferry terminal to site.

As the world has evolved, so has the way we work. Our working approach, will enable you to have flexibility with your working hours, depending on your role and location. This could include part time hours, accruing hours as well as flexibility around start and finish times, ensuring you can balance life at work, on site and life at home.

Why BAE Systems?

This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified people, who are BAE Systems employees and have been in their current role for 12 months or longer.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date:8th August 2025

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.