Senior Design Engineer

White Label Recruitment Ltd; Accrington; On-site; GBP 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working hours

Mon-Thu work week

Bespoke machinery projects

Job summary

White Label Recruitment Ltd is seeking a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to join a specialist machinery manufacturer. You will design bespoke machinery from concept through to installation, working on coating, printing, laminating, drying and web handling projects.

You will lead a small design team of 2–3 engineers, coordinate tasks, review calculations and drawings, and ensure compliance with machinery standards while collaborating with controls and manufacturing teams.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years' experience in mechanical design within industrial machinery, automation or special-purpose equipment.
• Experience leading engineering tasks or small design teams.
• Strong 3D CAD experience, Autodesk Inventor preferred.
• Good understanding of manufacturing techniques and power transmission systems.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.

Responsibilities

• Design bespoke machinery and production systems using 3D CAD (Autodesk Inventor).
• Produce detailed drawings, BOMs and specifications.
• Lead small design projects and coordinate up to three engineers.
• Review designs, calculations and documentation with project managers.
• Collaborate with controls, manufacturing and suppliers; support FAT and commissioning.

Skills

Leadership

3D CAD

Project management

Communication

Education

Degree in mechanical engineering

Tools

Autodesk Inventor

Job description

Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Our client, a specialist manufacturer of bespoke machinery, is looking for a highly motivated and experienced Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to join their engineering team. The successful candidate will play a key role in the design and development of custom-engineered machinery for specialist industrial applications, supplied to customers across a range of international markets.

This is a hands-on engineering role requiring strong mechanical design expertise combined with the ability to lead small design projects and coordinate the activities of a team of 2-3 engineers. The position offers the opportunity to work on technically challenging, custom-engineered equipment from concept through to installation and commissioning.

Key Responsibilities

Mechanical Design

• Design bespoke machinery, assemblies and production systems using 3D CAD (Autodesk Inventor), developing innovative solutions for coating, printing, laminating, drying, winding and web transport processes.
• Produce detailed manufacturing and assembly drawings, bills of materials, and Functional Design Specifications alongside the Systems Engineers.
• Carry out engineering calculations covering structures, shafts, bearings, drives, pneumatics and machine dynamics, and select suitable materials, components and manufacturing processes in line with machinery legislation, harmonised standards and customer specifications.

Project Leadership

• Manage small- to medium-sized design projects from concept through manufacture and commissioning, coordinating and prioritising the work of up to three mechanical design engineers.
• Monitor progress against engineering schedules and milestones, participate in design reviews and technical risk assessments, and identify and mitigate technical risks.
• Review and approve engineering designs, calculations and technical documentation produced by other engineers, liaising with Project Managers to ensure successful delivery.

Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

• Work closely with controls engineers, manufacturing, commissioning teams and suppliers, supporting Purchasing with technical component selection and supplier enquiries.
• Provide engineering support during machine build, testing, Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and site commissioning, attending customer meetings with occasional UK and international travel.
• Manage Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs) raised against your projects, mentor junior engineers, and contribute to engineering standards, design practices and improvements in machine performance, reliability and cost-effectiveness.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 7 years' experience in mechanical design within industrial machinery, automation or special-purpose equipment, with proven experience designing bespoke (not catalogue-based) machinery.
• Experience leading engineering tasks or small design teams.
• Strong 3D CAD experience, Autodesk Inventor preferred.
• Good understanding of manufacturing techniques (fabrication, machining, assembly) and mechanical power transmission systems, with experience producing engineering calculations and technical documentation.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.

Desirable Experience

• Degree qualified in an engineering discipline, or substantial experience in a similar role.
• Experience with coating, printing, laminating, converting, web handling, winding or roll-to-roll processing equipment, including precision process, tension control or vacuum systems.
• Knowledge of Machinery Regulation / CE & UKCA compliance requirements, and understanding of ATEX environments and hazardous area design.
• Experience supporting FAT, SAT and commissioning activities.

Personal Attributes

• Innovative and practical problem solver, self-motivated with strong attention to detail.
• Able to balance technical excellence with commercial awareness.
• Strong leadership and mentoring capability, and a collaborative team player.
• Customer-focused, with a willingness to take ownership and drive projects to completion.

What's on Offer

• Salary of up to £65k, with flexible working hours and working only Monday - Thursday
• Opportunity to work on highly specialised bespoke machinery projects, with exposure to a wide range of engineering challenges and technologies.
• Career progression within a growing engineering business.
• Collaborative and supportive engineering environment.