Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Manna Drone Delivery; Dublin; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in Ireland seeks a senior mechanical design engineer to lead the design and development of structural and general mechanical systems for aircraft platforms. You will own mechanical design from concept through CAD, analysis, prototype, test, and production.

The role requires strong 3D CAD skills (CATIA, SolidWorks, NX, Creo), experience with FEA/CFD, tolerance analysis, GD&T, and hands-on prototyping.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of mechanical design experience in structures/airframes/complex electromechanical systems.
• Strong 3D CAD capability with CATIA/SolidWorks/NX/Creo or equivalent.
• Deep understanding of structural design, materials, load paths, stiffness, fatigue and robustness.
• Experience using FEA/CFD, thermal analysis and hand calculations to validate designs.
• Experience designing parts and assemblies for CNC machining, sheet metal, composites, injection moulding, additive manufacturing, or production assembly.
• Strong knowledge of tolerance analysis, GD&T, drawings, BOMs and release documentation.
• Hands-on prototyping, test rigs, environmental and vibration testing, or mechanical validation.
• Ability to work across disciplines and interface with electrical, software, manufacturing and systems teams.
• Clear communication of technical decisions, trade-offs, risks, and recommendations.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving hardware development environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of mechanical systems for aircraft platforms.
• Own mechanical design from concept through CAD, analysis, prototype build, test and production support.
• Design airframe structures, brackets, interfaces, mechanisms, enclosures, and integrated systems.
• Analyse structures under static, dynamic, vibration, fatigue, thermal, and loading conditions.
• Use CAD/FEA/CFD and test data to drive engineering decisions.
• Drive lightweight, robust, manufacturable designs meeting performance and safety requirements.
• Apply DFM/DFA across machined parts, sheet metal, composites, moulded components and assemblies.
• Conduct tolerance analysis and apply GD&T for production-ready designs.
• Develop and support mechanical test plans, DVPs, test rigs, and data analysis.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, quality, supply chain, electrical, software and test teams to resolve issues.

Skills

3D CAD

FEA/CFD

GD&T

Prototyping

Manufacturing collaboration

Tools

3DExperience

CATIA

SolidWorks

NX

Creo

Job description

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of structural and general mechanical systems for Manna’s aircraft platforms.
• Own mechanical design work from concept through CAD, analysis, prototype build, test, design release, and production support.
• Design airframe structures, brackets, interfaces, mechanisms, enclosures, and integrated mechanical systems.
• Analyse structures under static, dynamic, vibration, fatigue, thermal, and operational loading conditions.
• Use CAD, FEA, CFD, hand calculations, and test data to make clear engineering decisions.
• Drive lightweight, robust, manufacturable design solutions that meet aircraft-level performance and safety requirements.
• Apply DFM/DFA principles across machined parts, sheet metal, composites, moulded components, additive parts, and assemblies.
• Conduct tolerance analysis and apply GD&T to ensure repeatable, production-ready designs.
• Develop and support mechanical test plans, DVPs, test rigs, validation builds, and data analysis.
• Work closely with manufacturing, quality, supply chain, electrical engineering, software, test, and operations teams to resolve system-level challenges.
• Support suppliers and manufacturing partners to ensure parts are scalable, cost-effective, and production ready.
• Lead root cause investigations and corrective actions for mechanical issues found during build, test, or operation.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to stronger design standards, better reviews, and improved engineering practices.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in mechanical design, ideally with a focus on structures, airframes, aerospace, robotics, automotive, or complex electromechanical systems.
• Strong 3D CAD capability using tools such as 3DExperience, CATIA, SolidWorks, NX, Creo, or equivalent.
• Strong understanding of structural design, materials, load paths, stiffness, strength, fatigue, vibration, and mechanical robustness.
• Experience using FEA, CFD, thermal analysis, hand calculations, and physical test data to validate designs.
• Experience designing parts and assemblies for real manufacturing processes, including CNC machining, sheet metal, composites, injection moulding, additive manufacturing, or production assembly.
• Strong knowledge of tolerance analysis, GD&T, engineering drawings, BOMs, and release documentation.
• Hands-on experience with prototyping, test rig development, environmental testing, vibration testing, or mechanical validation.
• Ability to work across disciplines and understand mechanical interfaces with electrical systems, manufacturing processes, software constraints, and aircraft-level requirements.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain technical decisions, trade-offs, risks, and recommendations clearly.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving hardware development environment.
• Nice to Have
• Experience in drones, aerospace, aviation, robotics, or another safety-critical hardware environment.
• Experience with airframe design, lightweight structures, composite structures, propulsion integration, or aircraft environmental protection.
• Familiarity with aerospace standards, environmental test standards, or regulated product development.
• Experience supporting products through prototype, validation, design release, and production ramp.
• Experience mentoring engineers or leading technical workstreams.