Design & Development Engineer

Design & Development Engineer – Staff – Salary + Benefits – Manufacturing – Lancaster

Our leading manufacturing client is seeking a Design & Development Engineer on a staff basis. You will lead and support product development, process improvement, and technical activities across the hose department, ensuring products meet specifications, production is optimised, and customer satisfaction is maintained. The role combines hands-on engineering, project management, team leadership, and cross-department collaboration.

Key Responsibilities:

* Maintain and manage current Bills of Materials (BOMs) within the ERP system, ensuring accuracy, version control, and alignment with approved designs and manufacturing processes.

* Plan and run development and improvement projects alongside live production activities, implementing process, product, and efficiency improvements without disrupting operations.

* Prioritise and allocate work for a small technical team, balancing short-term production support with longer-term development initiatives.

* Deliver installation training courses across the product range, providing technical guidance to internal teams, customers, and external partners.

* Make technical and commercial decisions on product quality within the concession process, assessing risk and authorising concessions where appropriate.

* Work closely with the Quality department to achieve, maintain, and renew product approvals, ensuring compliance with internal standards, customer requirements, and regulatory or certification bodies.

* Contribute to, and where required lead, Lean manufacturing initiatives, driving continuous improvement in efficiency, quality, and process standardisation.

* Maintain and control product target specifications across all departments, ensuring alignment between design, manufacturing, quality, and customer expectations.

* Work with Supply Chain to validate and approve alternative materials, ensuring continuity of supply without compromising product performance.

* Provide technical support to the Customer Services team, assisting with troubleshooting and complex customer issues.

* Support investigations into warranty claims, including on-site customer visits, rootcause analysis, and implementation of corrective actions.

* Demonstrate strong proficiency in SolidWorks for design, modification, and analysis of products and assemblies.

* Apply SolidWorks skills to support plant equipment upgrades and maintenance, including extrusion tooling.

* Manage drawing office document control, ensuring all design documentation, revisions, and technical drawings are accurately maintained, version-controlled, and accessible to relevant departments.

* Conduct in-house product testing using existing equipment, and design and develop new test equipment as required.

* Apply project management skills to ensure all development, production, and improvement activities are delivered on time, within budget, and to agreed quality standards.

* Liaise with and contribute to CAPEX projects, providing technical input and ensuring alignment with operational and production requirements.

* Write, update, and maintain internal operating procedures, ensuring processes are clearly documented and consistently followed.

Qualifications & Experience:

* Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline.

* Strong SolidWorks skills for design, analysis, and plant/equipment modification.

* Project management capability with experience managing timescales, budgets, and cross-functional teams.

* Strong understanding of Lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement.

* Excellent technical problem-solving and decision-making skills.

* Ability to write and maintain clear technical documentation and operating procedures.

* Effective communication and training skills for internal teams, customers, and external partners