Mechanical Engineer

SoCode Limited; Haverhill; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading manufacturing company in Haverhill is seeking an R&D Engineer to innovate in ventilation and heat pump technologies. You will participate in the entire product cycle, from concept to production, ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards. Candidates should hold a relevant engineering degree and have at least 2 years of R&D experience. Strong design skills, particularly in 3D CAD (Autodesk Inventor), and knowledge of refrigeration or heat pump technologies are essential. This role offers opportunities to significantly influence future product designs.

Qualifications

• Degree (or equivalent) in a relevant engineering discipline.
• At least 2 years of R&D experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Proficient in product design and 3D CAD, ideally Autodesk Inventor.
• Knowledge and practical experience of refrigeration and heat pump technology.

Responsibilities

• Build understanding of the UK heat pump and ventilation market.
• Analyse competitor products for design insights.
• Contribute to product development cycles.
• Ensure projects meet timelines, budgets, and quality expectations.

Skills

Product design and 3D CAD skills (Autodesk Inventor)

Analytical mindset

Knowledge of refrigeration systems

Creative problem-solving

Strong organisational skills

Education

Degree in a relevant engineering discipline

Tools

PLM tools

Job description

Socode are proud to be working with an established and forward-thinking manufacturer at the forefront of ventilation and heat pump technologies. They're growing their R&D capability and are looking for an engineer to help shape the next generation of products that combine refrigeration, thermal efficiency, and smart mechanical design.

What will I be doing?

You'll be part of a specialist R&D team focused on taking ideas from concept through to full production. You'll explore customer needs, benchmark competitor products, and turn insights into practical design solutions. Day to day, you'll be designing, modelling, testing, and validating innovative ventilation and heat pump products - making sure they're technically robust, compliant, and ready for manufacturing at scale. You'll own your projects, working closely with colleagues across R&D, manufacturing, quality, and sales. You'll steer technical discussions, help shape specifications, contribute to product architecture, and enhance internal capability in refrigeration and thermal systems. Your work will directly influence how future products are designed, built, and launched.

Key responsibilities

• Build and maintain a strong understanding of the UK heat pump and mechanical ventilation market - including regulations, technology trends, and customer expectations.
• Analyse competitor products and feed insights into the design process.
• Contribute to and occasionally lead full product development cycles: from requirements capture and concept generation, through to detailed design, testing, and validation.
• Ensure projects meet agreed timelines, budgets, and quality expectations.
• Produce high-quality technical documentation, supporting compliance and CE/UKCA certification.
• Work with internal departments and external suppliers to maintain progress and solve problems quickly.
• Collaborate with test, electrical, and software engineers to develop complete product solutions.
• Develop creative, manufacturable designs using sound engineering principles.
• Lead or support technical reviews - including brainstorming, DfMA, design reviews, and lessons learned.
• Plan and track project activities, raising risks and helping to keep delivery on course.
• Support routine engineering activity such as Engineering Change, quality investigations, and improvements to standards and processes.
• Always prioritise safety and promote best practices in product design and testing.

We're looking for

• Degree (or equivalent) in a relevant engineering discipline.
• At least 2 years of R&D experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong product design and 3D CAD skills - ideally Autodesk Inventor.
• Knowledge and practical experience of refrigeration systems and/or heat pump technology.
• Proven ability to take ownership of tasks and deliver to completion.
• Analytical mindset - experience in modelling, FEA, or CFD would be an advantage.
• Comfortable working conceptually while maintaining strong attention to detail.
• Creative and inquisitive - able to explore options and find practical, elegant solutions.
• Ideally some exposure to PLM tools, Engineering Change, or product release processes.
• Any familiarity with ventilation, fan-based, or HVAC products would be beneficial.
• Strong organisational and interpersonal skills - able to build trust, work with pace, and handle competing priorities.

Interested? Submit your CV by clicking 'apply now