Senior Part 21 Design Engineer

Matchtech Group; Oxford; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Matchtech Group is supporting a leading aerospace organisation in Oxford to recruit a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer for helicopter customisations from concept to manufacture. You will lead mechanical design activities, develop systems, manage data in PLM, and ensure compliance with customer, regulatory and certification requirements.

You will supervise engineers, review drawings/models, plan design work across packages, and coordinate with customers and suppliers to enable successful product

Qualifications

• Degree level qualification in Mechanical, Aerospace or Structural Engineering, or an HNC/HND with extensive mechanical design experience.
• Significant mechanical or aerospace design experience, including concept development and detailed engineering solutions.
• Proficient in CATIA V5 and AutoCAD; experience with PLM systems (ENOVIA/SmarTeam/ARAS).
• Knowledge of CAA Part 21, CS27, CS29 and Defence Standard 00-970.
• Strong understanding of drawings, tolerancing and manufacturing processes.
• Experience supervising or leading a team of mechanical design engineers.
• Ability to manage work packages, meet deadlines and maintain technical accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design activities for work packages and modules in NPI.
• Develop, detail and integrate mechanical systems for helicopter applications.
• Manage product maturity and development data in PLM systems.
• Review and approve 2D drawings and 3D models for accuracy.
• Plan and schedule design activities across packages, tracking cost and weight targets.
• Organise and participate in design reviews with follow-up actions.
• Manage design changes to support manufacturing, customers, quality and certification.
• Communicate with customers and suppliers for data transfer and development.
• Ensure appropriate materials and manufacturing processes are selected.
• Coach and mentor junior designers, apprentices and graduates.

Skills

Leadership

2D drawings

3D modelling

CAD drafting

Regulatory knowledge

Sheet metal fabrication

CNC machining

Composites

Mentoring

Education

Mechanical/Aerospace degree or HNC/HND

Tools

CATIA V5

Autodesk AutoCAD

ENOVIA

SmarTeam

ARAS

Job description

Our client, a leading organisation in the aerospace sector, is seeking a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to join its helicopter engineering team in Oxford on a permanent basis. The role will involve leading the design and development of helicopter customisations from initial concept through to manufacture, ensuring compliance with customer, regulatory and certification requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead mechanical design activities for work packages and modules throughout the New Product Introduction process
• Develop, detail and integrate mechanical systems and components for helicopter applications
• Manage product maturity, development activities and associated data within PLM systems
• Review and approve 2D drawings, 3D models and electronic bills of materials for technical accuracy and compliance with internal standards
• Plan and schedule design activities across multiple work packages, managing tasks, deliverables, cost and weight targets
• Organise and participate in design reviews, ensuring that follow-up actions are completed
• Manage design changes to support manufacturing, production, customers, quality and certification requirements
• Communicate effectively with customers and suppliers while supporting technical data transfer and product development activities
• Ensure appropriate materials and manufacturing processes are selected for each design element
• Coach and mentor less experienced mechanical design engineers, apprentices and graduates

Job Requirements:

• Degree-level qualification in Mechanical, Aerospace or Structural Engineering, or an HNC/HND or equivalent qualification supported by extensive mechanical systems design experience
• Significant experience in mechanical or aerospace design, including concept development and detailed engineering solutions
• Proficiency in CATIA V5, Autodesk AutoCAD and Product Lifecycle Management systems such as ENOVIA, SmarTeam or ARAS
• Understanding of CAA Part 21, CS27, CS29 and Defence Standard 00-970
• Strong knowledge of mechanical design drawings, specifications, tolerancing and manufacturing processes
• Understanding of sheet metal fabrication, plastics vacuum forming, CNC machining and composite lay‑up
• Experience supervising or leading a team of mechanical design engineers
• Ability to manage design work packages, meet deadlines and maintain a high standard of technical accuracy
• Commitment to progressing towards design signatory or Compliance Verification Engineer status

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to obtain Security Check clearance and complete the required BPSS screening
• Willingness to meet applicable export control and compliance requirements
• Current legal right to work in the United Kingdom, as sponsorship is not available for this position

This is an excellent opportunity for a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to contribute to innovative helicopter customisation projects while supporting certification, manufacturing and technical development within the aerospace industry.