Mechanical Design Engineer
12 Month Fixed Term Contract
Newmarket, Suffolk
£40,000 – £50,000 + 5% Bonus + Excellent Benefits
Some engineering roles are about maintaining drawings.
This one is about building something that is scaling fast.
Our client, a specialist engineering manufacturer operating within aerospace and defence applications, is entering a significant phase of growth. Production has ramped, facilities have been redesigned to support mass manufacture, and the mechanical design function now sits at the heart of that transition.
They are now looking for a Mechanical Design Engineer to join them on a 12-month fixed-term contract, supporting a portfolio of antenna products used in demanding military and civilian environments. This is project-based work with genuine potential to become permanent as the business continues to expand.
This role bridges new product development and production engineering. You will not be sitting in isolation, modelling parts. You will be working closely with RF engineers, production teams and wider stakeholders to turn prototypes into robust, manufacturable products.
The opportunity
You will be responsible for:
• Producing detailed 3D CAD models and drawings using SolidWorks
• Supporting the productionisation of prototype designs into volume manufacture
• Overseeing hands-on fabrication and testing of mechanical prototypes
• Undertaking tolerance analysis including GD&T
• Generating and maintaining drawings to BS8888 and ISO standards
• Applying DFM principles to improve manufacturability
• Supporting change control processes and continuous improvement initiatives
• Contributing to documentation across the full product lifecycle
This is an environment where designs go through the full engineering lifecycle. From concept through validation, into production and ongoing support. If you enjoy seeing your work built, tested and deployed, this will suit you.
What they are looking for
• Degree qualified in Mechanical Engineering or similar
• Around 3+ years’ experience in product design and development
• Experience supporting manufacturing in medium to high volumes
• Confident using 3D CAD, SolidWorks advantageous
• Strong understanding of materials, finishes and manufacturing processes
• Clear communicator, comfortable working cross-functionally
• Self-sufficient but collaborative
Culturally, this is a relaxed and highly collaborative team. Jeans and t-shirt environment, open communication, strong technical depth across disciplines. They invest heavily in training and development, including formal software training if required.
Package & Benefits
• Salary £40,000 – £50,000
• 5% annual company performance bonus
• 25 days of annual leave
• Private Medical Insurance funded by the company, with the option to include family
• Life assurance at 3x salary
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Gym membership and additional flexible benefits
The bigger picture
This is a business that grew by 30% last year and is forecast to continue. They have reconfigured their production facility to support volume output and are balancing new product innovation with real-world manufacturing scale.
For the right engineer, this is an opportunity to embed yourself in a technically strong team during a period of genuine expansion. The contract provides defined project exposure, structured support and the realistic prospect of becoming part of the long-term engineering capability as growth continues.
If you are looking for a role where your designs move beyond screen and into production at pace, this is worth a serious conversation