Mechanical Design Lead

ZipRecruiter; Portsmouth; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 86,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm is seeking a Mechanical Design Lead to provide expert knowledge in systems engineering and mechanical design. Located in Cowes, this role offers hybrid working arrangements and a competitive salary up to £85,700. Ideal candidates will have expertise in Mechanical Engineering, experience with CAD tools, and the ability to lead complex engineering projects.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

Share plans

Flexible discounted health and wellbeing benefits

Qualifications

• Expertise in Static and Dynamic Shock and Vibration.
• Experience translating concepts into production-ready designs.
• Familiarity with CAD and analysis, modeling, simulation tools.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert knowledge in systems engineering and mechanical engineering.
• Lead engineering teams and manage costs.
• Deliver solutions to meet program, business, and customer requirements.

Skills

Subject matter expertise in Mechanical Engineering

Ability to generate requirements

Relevant experience in CAD and Mechanical Engineering Analysis

Experience leading large-scale complex system designs

Knowledge of lifecycle models (e.g., Waterfall, Agile)

Higher education in a relevant STEM discipline

Chartered Engineer status or working towards it

Education

Higher education in a relevant STEM discipline

Job description

Overview

Job title: Mechanical Design Lead

Location: Cowes – Isle of Wight or Broad Oak. Hybrid and flexible working arrangements available; speak to your recruiter about options for this role.

Salary: Up to £85,700 depending on skills and experience. Part time & accruing hours available.

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 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.

Requirements / Skills

• 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
• A Chartered Engineer status or working towards it

Benefits

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

About 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. You will be supported to grow knowledge in contemporary and cutting-edge Radar techniques, with opportunities to develop your skills and responsibilities in technical leadership. This role offers flexible and hybrid working arrangements. Our Cowes workplace is an easily accessible commute from Southampton with a regular foot passenger ferry and BAE shuttle service from the ferry terminal to site.

Working arrangements

As the world has evolved, so has the way we work. Our working approach enables flexibility with working hours, depending on role and location. This could include part-time hours, accruing hours, and flexibility around start and finish times to balance life at work, on site and at home.

Why BAE Systems?

You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values integrity and merit, and you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and aim to keep recruitment processes as inclusive as possible.

If you have a health condition (for example, dyslexia, autism, anxiety disorder, etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about reasonable adjustments. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified people and require candidates to be in their current role for 12 months or longer within BAE Systems.

Please note that many roles are subject to security and export control restrictions. These restrictions may affect eligibility based on factors such as nationality and place of birth. All applicants must meet Baseline Personnel Security Standard at minimum.

Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting, typically with 5 to 10 years of continuous residence in the UK depending on the vetting level. Closing Date: 24 September 2025. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications. Please submit your application as early as possible.

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