Product Design Engineer NPD

Unum; Crawley; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

5 weeks holiday + bank holidays

Early finish on Fridays

Flexible start and finish times

Hybrid working options

Three attractive pension scheme opti­-

Electric car & cycle-to-work schemes

Access to employee discounts and well­

Job summary

Unum Aircraft Seating in Crawley, West Sussex, is seeking a Product Design Engineer to drive concept-to-manufacture of premium aircraft seating. This hybrid, full-time role blends innovative design with practical manufacturing collaboration.

You’ll develop 3D CAD models in SolidWorks, contribute to PLM data in 3DX, and work with engineering and certification teams to deliver robust, certifiable solutions for next-generation cabins.

Qualifications

• A degree in Product Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or similar.
• Strong capability in SolidWorks CAD; develop parts, assemblies and drawings.
• Grounding in mechanical design, materials, manufacturing processes and designing for users.
• Extensive experience prototyping, building and testing your own designs.
• Genuine interest in aircraft interiors and seating.
• Proactive, problem-solving mindset and great communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and take ownership for meeting project deadlines.
• Experience in a regulated engineering and manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop innovative aircraft seating products from concept through to manufacture.
• Create detailed 3D CAD models and drawings (primarily in SolidWorks).
• Work hands-on with manufacturing to ensure designs are robust, buildable, and certifiable.
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, and certification teams to solve real-world challenges.
• Support configuration control and product data within our PLM system (3DX).
• Play an active role in design reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Problem-solving

Communication

Team collaboration

Ownership

Education

Degree in Product Design Engineering or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

3DX PLM

Job description

Description

We’re Hiring: Product Design Engineer

Crawley, West Sussex (Hybrid) | Full-time, Permanent

At Unum Aircraft Seating, we’re redefining what premium air travel feels like. Our smart, adaptable, lie-flat seating solutions are trusted by airlines to deliver exceptional passenger comfort — and we’re just getting started.

Don’t miss your opportunity to join our team of fantastic innovators who together combine engineering expertise with exceptional design to meet the highest safety, comfort, and efficiency standards for commercial aircraft. We are redefining business class comfort with our smart, adaptable, and reliable aircraft seating design.

Unum Aircraft Seating; Reliably comfortable, responsibly made.

We’re now hiring for a Product Design Engineer to join our growing Engineering team and help bring our next-generation aircraft seating products from concept to reality.

Why Join Unum?

• Be part of a growing, ambitious startup environment changing the aircraft seating industry
• Work on premium products with real-world impact
• A culture built on collaboration, sustainability, and quality

Fantastic benefits including:

• Competitive salary
• 5 weeks holiday + bank holidays
• Early finish on Fridays
• Flexible start and finish times
• Hybrid working options
• Three attractive pension scheme options
• Electric car & cycle-to-work schemes
• Access to employee discounts and wellbeing platform

What you will be doing as a Product Design Engineer at Unum

As a key member of our Engineering team, you’ll:

• Design and develop innovative aircraft seating products from concept through to manufacture.
• Create detailed 3D CAD models and drawings (primarily in SolidWorks).
• Work hands-on with manufacturing to ensure designs are robust, buildable, and certifiable.
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, and certification teams to solve real-world challenges.
• Support configuration control and product data within our PLM system (3DX).
• Play an active role in design reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.

What we Look For in our Product Design Engineers

• A degree in Product Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or similar.
• Strong capability in developing parts, assemblies and drawings with SolidWorks CAD package.
• A strong grounding in mechanical design, materials, manufacturing processes and designing for users.
• Extensive experience of prototyping, building and testing your own designs.
• A genuine interest in aircraft interiors and seating.
• A proactive, problem-solving mindset and great communication skills.
• The ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and take ownership for meeting project deadlines.
• Experience in a regulated engineering and manufacturing environment.

Bonus points for:

• Experience using 3DX PLM platform.
• Familiarity with FEA simulation tools.
• Aerospace / aircraft interiors seating industry experience.

Join Us

Everyone belongs here

At Unum Aircraft Seating, we believe great ideas come from different perspectives and experiences. We’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone is valued, respected and able to do their best work. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, regardless of background.

Your journey, your way

We want every candidate to have a great experience with us. If you need any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment or interview process, just let us know — we’re happy to help.

A quick note before you apply

All applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Proof of eligibility will be required before you start with us.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so we may close a vacancy early if we receive enough suitable applications. If you’re interested, we recommend applying sooner rather than later.

And this is just the beginning

Our roles aren’t set in stone. As Unum grows, our people and our opportunities grow with us. The role you join us for today may look different tomorrow — and that’s exactly the point.