Salary: £60,000 - £75,000 DOE
Area: Manchester / Hybrid
Job Type: Permanent
About the Role
We are seeking a talented Sales Systems Design Engineer to support the concept and design phase of complex automated systems projects. Working closely with customers, Sales, Applications, and Engineering teams, you will develop innovative automation solutions that meet customer requirements while balancing technical performance, manufacturability, and cost.
This is an exciting opportunity for an engineer who enjoys solving technical challenges, engaging directly with customers, and working across multiple engineering disciplines to bring automation concepts to life.
Key Responsibilities
System Design & Development
* Partner with customers and internal stakeholders to develop custom automated systems that meet defined technical and commercial requirements.
* Create and refine system concepts, layouts, and hardware architectures during the pre-sales and project definition phases.
* Identify technical risks early in the design process and implement practical solutions to mitigate them.
Technical Documentation & Project Handover
* Own the creation of hardware requirements documentation to clearly define project scope.
* Prepare engineering documentation and design packages for handover to production engineering teams.
* Support Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) during early project phases and prepare customer sign-off documentation.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
* Work closely with Mechanical, Electrical, Robotics, Automation, Manufacturing, and Build teams to validate concepts and ensure design feasibility.
* Participate in design reviews and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.
* Ensure designs consider manufacturability, build efficiency, and cost optimisation.
Customer Engagement
* Act as a technical partner throughout the concept development process.
* Conduct customer site visits to evaluate existing systems and identify upgrade opportunities.
* Present design concepts professionally and communicate technical solutions clearly to a range of stakeholders.
Skills & Experience Required
Essential
* Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
* Minimum 2-3 years' experience in Mechanical Design, Systems Design, or Automation Engineering.
* Proven experience designing automated systems, machinery, or robotic solutions.
* Strong proficiency with SolidWorks.
* Experience using PLM and ERP systems.
* Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
* Strong communication and presentation abilities.
* Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
* Comfortable working independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
* Willingness to travel up to 25% as required.
Desirable
* Experience within automation, robotics integration, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, or special-purpose machinery.
* Knowledge of Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and cost reduction methodologies.
* Experience creating customer-facing technical presentations and proposals.
* Previous experience working with robotic systems integrators.
What You'll Bring
* A collaborative approach and strong stakeholder management skills.
* A customer-focused mindset with the ability to understand and translate requirements into practical engineering solutions.
* Strong attention to detail and a commitment to delivering high-quality work.
* A proactive attitude towards continuous improvement and innovation
Salary description
£60000.00 - £75000.00 per year