Product Design Engineer

Kodu; Biggleswade; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working after probation

Pension contribution

Mental health support

Employee discount scheme

Death in service insurance

Job summary

Kodu is seeking a Product Design Engineer in Biggleswade to transform designer concepts into manufacturable products. You will own engineering from CAD through production, modelling complex assemblies in SolidWorks and driving DFx across metals and plastics.

The role offers hybrid work after probation, with on-site presence and regular interaction with our China team. A strong background in plastics and metals plus mentoring experience are beneficial.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience taking concepts through to production.
• Advanced SolidWorks experience with multi-part assemblies and surfacing.
• Background in metals and plastics, including injection moulding and tooling.
• Experience handing designs to manufacturing, ideally with China or Far East exposure.
• FEA experience is advantageous but not required.

Responsibilities

• Model multi-part assemblies and mechanisms in SolidWorks at an advanced level.
• Drive design for manufacture across metals and plastics, including moulding and tooling.
• Own the relationship with the China engineering team, travelling 2–3 times per year.
• Mentor a junior engineer in SolidWorks and design.

Skills

Design for manufacture

Mentor junior engineer

China liaison

Concept to production

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Own a product from an industrial designer's concept through to full production, running the SolidWorks, the mechanisms, the moulding and the China relationship yourself. This Product Design Engineer role in Biggleswade pays £50,000 to £55,000 with hybrid working available after probation.

Scope of the Role

As a Product Design Engineer, you will take concepts from the in-house industrial designer and turn them into manufacturable products, owning the engineering from CAD through to production:

• Model multi-part assemblies, linkages, mechanisms and complex surfacing in SolidWorks at an advanced level.
• Drive design for manufacture across metals and plastics, including moulding, overmoulding and tooling.
• Own the relationship with the China engineering team, travelling out two to three times a year.
• Mentor a more junior engineer moving into SolidWorks and design.

Key Skills and Experience Required

• Extensive experience as a Product Design Engineer, Design Engineer or Mechanical Design Engineer, concept to production.
• Advanced SolidWorks, including multi-part assemblies, linkages, mechanisms and complex surfacing, built unaided.
• A solid background in metals and plastics, injection moulding, overmoulding and mechanism design.
• Experience handing designs to manufacturing, ideally with China or Far East exposure.
• FEA experience is an advantage, not essential.

Salary and Benefits

• Hybrid working, three days on-site, available after a successful probation period
• 20 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to buy more
• Pension contribution
• Mental health and wellbeing support, including 24/7 GP access
• Employee discount scheme and death in service insurance

As a Product Design Engineer here, you will join a small, tight design team of four to five, working alongside three engineers in China. This British, family-owned manufacturer of high-end pushchairs and nursery products is sold on design and pride of ownership as much as function, and has recently won an iF Design award, a Red Dot award and a Queen's Award. The newly refurbished studio has an open-plan floor and a fully kitted workshop. The business is growing and moving beyond its core category, giving you real scope to shape what comes next.