Principal Mechanical Design Engineer

Matchtech; Hereford; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Matchtech in Hereford seeks a Principal Mechanical Design Engineer to lead electro-mechanical design for defence applications, overseeing full design from concept to prototyping and release. The role collaborates across electrical, avionics, and propulsion teams to deliver rugged, field-ready solutions.

The candidate will manage engineers, maintain regulatory compliance, and guide design decisions for volume manufacture in a fast-moving defence environment.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree (Bachelor's or equivalent).
• Experience leading and managing engineers in a new product development environment.
• Strong background in mechanical engineering and design within a related industry.
• Experience designing for volume manufacture and assembly (machining, sheet metal, injection moulding, additive manufacturing or composites).
• Skilled in kinematic analysis, structural analysis, and finite element methods (FEA).
• Experience releasing engineering drawings compliant with BS8888 standards.
• Excellent communication skills for reporting to stakeholders, engineers, and project managers.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure, demonstrating resilience and adaptive problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical delivery of complex electro-mechanical mechanisms across varied projects and technologies.
• Guide and motivate a team of mechanical design engineers with governance and best practices.
• Own full design process from concept and CAD to tolerance analysis and material selection.
• Conduct structural and kinematic calculations along with preliminary FEA.
• Oversee mechanical engineering to ensure regulatory compliance and stakeholder requirements.
• Prototype, test, and iterate mechanism designs for functionality and reliability.
• Collaborate with electrical, avionics, flight controls, and propulsion teams.
• Mentor junior engineers and support professional development.

Skills

Mechanical design

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Regulatory compliance

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

CAD software

FEA (Finite Element Analysis)

Job description

Our client, a fast-moving and innovative Defence-Tech company, is currently seeking a Principal Mechanical Design Engineer to join their team in Hereford. This role involves working with cutting-edge unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and drone technology tailored for Defence and Security applications. Ideal candidates will be motivated to support MoD and defence prime commitments and be excited about field-ready, rugged product design.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the technical delivery of complex electro-mechanical mechanisms through extensive mechanical engineering expertise on varied projects, subsystems, and technology developments.
• Guide and motivate a team of mechanical design engineers, ensuring adherence to best practices and technical governance.
• Own the full design process from concept and CAD to tolerance analysis and material selection.
• Conduct structural and kinematic calculations along with preliminary FEA.
• Oversee mechanical engineering to ensure compliance with relevant regulations, directives, and standards, meeting stakeholder and product requirements.
• Prototype, test, and iterate mechanism designs for functionality and reliability.
• Collaborate with electrical, avionics, flight controls, and propulsion teams.
• Mentor junior engineers and support professional development and training initiatives.

Job Requirements:

• Engineering degree (Bachelors or an equivalent qualification or experience).
• Recent substantial experience in leading and managing engineers in a new product development environment.
• Strong background in mechanical engineering and design within a related industry.
• Proficiency in designing for volume manufacture and assembly, including machining, sheet metal, injection moulding, additive manufacturing, or composites.
• Skilled in kinematic analysis, structural analysis, and finite element methods (FEA).
• Experience in releasing engineering drawings compliant with BS8888 standards.
• Excellent communication skills for reporting to stakeholders, engineers, and project managers.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure, demonstrating resilience and adaptive problem-solving skills.

Benefits:

• Variety in work across multiple products and projects.
• Full ownership of mechanical designs from end-to-end.
• Proximity to production facilities, ensuring a quick feedback loop between design and reality.
• Direct impact on operational units with products in active service.
• Growth opportunities within a rapidly scaling company.

If you are a seasoned Mechanical Design Engineer eager to work in a dynamic environment and have a direct impact on defence operations, we would love to hear from you.