Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Job Title: Senior Mechanical Design Engineer – Special Purpose Fabrication Equipment
Location: Manchester (On-Site)
Salary: Competitive – dependent on experience (skills-led package)
Job Type: Permanent

Overview

A well-established engineering business is seeking a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to support the design and development of complex fabricated and machined equipment used in industrial and regulated environments. The role focuses on full lifecycle mechanical design, from concept through to detailed manufacturing drawings and support through fabrication and build.

This is a hands-on design engineering position requiring strong experience in manufacturing-led design rather than conceptual or theoretical engineering.

Key Responsibilities

Design and develop complex mechanical fabrications and assemblies for manufacture
Produce full 3D models and detailed 2D manufacturing drawings from concept
Create fabrication drawings suitable for laser cutting, folding, welding and assembly
Design precision machined components including shafts, housings, couplings and fixtures
Specify and apply correct tolerances, fits and machining requirements
Develop assemblies incorporating bearings, sleeves, keyways and bolted connections
Ensure designs are manufacturable, cost-effective and aligned with production capability
Work closely with manufacturing and workshop teams to resolve design queries
Support reverse engineering and redesign of existing equipment where required
Interpret and adapt designs to material availability and fabrication constraints
Provide technical input into design improvements and problem-solving activitiesEssential Requirements

10+ years mechanical design experience in fabrication or special purpose machinery
Strong background in mechanical design for manufacture (DfM)
Proven experience producing detailed manufacturing drawings from scratch
Strong understanding of sheet metal fabrication and laser cutting design principles
Experience designing machined components and mechanical assemblies
Knowledge of tolerancing, fits, and machining practices (limits & fits, ISO standards)
Strong proficiency in SolidWorks (professional level)
Experience with 2D CAD (AutoCAD or equivalent such as DraftSight)
Ability to interpret engineering requirements into practical manufacturing solutions
Engineering qualification (HNC/HND or equivalent minimum)
Full UK driving licence
Desirable Requirements

Degree-qualified in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline
Experience within water, wastewater or process plant equipment
Experience with stainless steel, mild steel and plastics design
Site experience including measurements, installation or troubleshooting support
Experience working with mixed imperial and metric design standards
Exposure to regulated or industrial manufacturing environments
Understanding of material selection and availability constraints
Key Skills & Attributes

Strong practical engineering mindset
High attention to manufacturing detail
Ability to work independently and take ownership of design outputs
Problem-solving capability in real-world fabrication environments
Comfortable working across design, production and site interfaces
Ability to manage multiple design outputs and priorities
Additional Information
This role requires a strong emphasis on real-world engineering capability rather than purely software-based CAD operation. Candidates must be able to demonstrate practical design experience through previous projects and manufacturing outputs.
Salary will be reflective of experience and capability, with higher remuneration available for candidates who meet a broader range of the desirable criteria