Senior Manufacturing/Design Engineer

Matthew James Group Ltd; Farnborough; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Matthew James Group Ltd is seeking a Senior Manufacturing/Design Engineer on a permanent basis in the United Kingdom. The role blends design, project delivery and cross-functional coordination across engineering, production, sales and external stakeholders.

You'll own projects from specification to delivery, bridging design and production, maintaining high engineering standards, cost control and timely execution, with site involvement and occasional international travel.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent; aiming for Chartered status.
• Experience in manufacturing, production, or systems-based engineering.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and technical specifications.
• Hands-on approach to practical engineering and production issues.
• Experience with piping, flow/pressure, and fluid-handling environments is advantageous.
• Commercially aware with cost management and profitable project delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead full lifecycle delivery from design through to dispatch and commissioning.
• Define specifications with customers, prepare quotations, and support commercial activities.
• Produce detailed engineering, fabrication and manufacturing drawings; ensure buildable designs.
• Collaborate with manufacturing to provide hands-on technical support and resolve issues.
• Develop inspection and test plans and carry out final inspections.
• Maintain project cost tracking to protect margins.
• Support shipping processes and ensure on-time documentation.
• Contribute to commissioning activities, including site visits (UK and international).
• Ensure compliance with CE, ATEX, PED and good engineering practice.
• Support new product development and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Work across design, manufacturing, assembly and commissioning as required.
• Provide technical support across the business and mentor junior engineering staff.

Skills

Manufacturing engineering

Hands-on

Problem solving

Commercial awareness

Reading engineering drawings

Education

Mechanical Engineering degree or equivalent

Tools

Autodesk Inventor

PDM systems

Job description

Senior Manufacturing/Design Engineer – Permanent – £50k–£65k

Our well-established engineering client is seeking a Senior Manufacturing/Design Engineer to join its team. This is a broad, hands‑on role combining design, project delivery, and cross-functional coordination across engineering, production, sales, and external stakeholders.

The ideal candidate will have a strong manufacturing engineering background and be comfortable bridging the gap between design and production. This is not a purely desk‑based design role, we are looking for someone who enjoys getting involved, solving practical engineering problems and working closely with the manufacturing team to ensure designs can be delivered effectively.

Reporting to the Engineering Manager, you will take ownership of projects from initial specification through to delivery, ensuring high engineering standards, cost control, and timely execution.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced engineer looking for a long‑term position where they can develop with the business, broaden their technical and commercial experience and take on increasing responsibility as the company continues to grow.

Key Responsibilities of the Senior Mechanical Engineer

• Lead full lifecycle delivery of engineered systems, from design through to dispatch and commissioning.
• Work with customers to define specifications, prepare quotations, and support commercial activities.
• Produce detailed engineering, fabrication and manufacturing drawings, ensuring designs are practical, buildable and suitable for production.
• Work closely with manufacturing and production teams, providing hands‑on technical support and resolving design or build issues as they arise.
• Interpret and work confidently from engineering drawings, specifications and technical documentation, with a strong understanding of how designs translate into a manufactured product.
• Develop inspection and test plans, carry out final inspections, and support system testing.
• Maintain project cost tracking to protect margins.
• Support shipping processes and ensure all documentation is accurate and delivered on time.
• Contribute to commissioning activities, including occasional site visits (UK and international).
• Ensure compliance with relevant standards (including CE, ATEX, PED) and good engineering practice.
• Support new product development and continuous improvement initiatives.
• working across design, manufacturing, assembly and commissioning where required.
• Provide technical support across the business and mentor junior engineering staff.

Requirements of the Senior Mechanical Engineer

• Strong background in piping systems, flow/pressure characteristics, and experience within fluid-handling, process, industrial equipment or other technically related environments would be advantageous.
• Degree-qualified in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent), with ambitions toward Chartered status.
• Strong previous experience within a manufacturing, production or systems-based engineering environment.
• A solid practical/manufacturing engineering background, with the ability to understand how components and engineered systems are fabricated, assembled, tested and commissioned.
• Confident reading and interpreting engineering drawings, manufacturing drawings and technical specifications.
• A hands‑on approach with the ability and willingness to get involved in practical engineering and production‑related issues.
• Experience working with equipment or systems involving the controlled movement, transfer, measurement or management of fluids would be particularly relevant.
• Knowledge of pumps, valves, metering, and filtration systems advantageous.
• Commercially aware, with experience managing costs and delivering profitable projects.
• Proficient in 3D CAD (e.g. Autodesk Inventor); experience with PDM systems beneficial.
• A genuine interest in developing within a growing engineering business and taking on greater responsibility over the longer term.