Mechanical Design Engineer
Location: Essex (on-site)
Employment Type: Full-time, permanent
Overview
We are working with a well-established, privately owned engineering business that designs and manufactures innovative laboratory and scientific equipment used globally across pharmaceutical, biotech, chemical, academic and research environments.
The company has a strong reputation for technical excellence, product quality and long-term customer relationships. With ambitious growth and product development plans, they are now looking to add an experienced Mechanical Design Engineer to their R&D team.
This is a hands-on, end-to-end engineering role where your designs will go into production and be used by customers worldwide.
The Role
As a Mechanical Design Engineer, you will play a key role in developing new products and improving existing ones across a growing portfolio of precision-engineered laboratory equipment.
You will take ownership of projects from initial concept through to manufacture, working closely with engineers, scientists, suppliers and external partners. The role is primarily on-site and suits someone who enjoys being close to prototypes, testing, manufacturing and real-world engineering challenges.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead and support New Product Development (NPD) and product improvement projects from concept to production
* Own and deliver Engineering Change Requests (ECRs), managing key workstreams with minimal supervision
* Design mechanical and electro-mechanical products aligned with the long-term product roadmap
* Produce high-quality 3D CAD models, assemblies, detailed drawings and documentation using SolidWorks and PDM
* Select, evaluate and integrate mechanical and electronic components
* Source materials and components, working directly with suppliers and mitigating supply chain risks
* Plan, cost and manage projects, including timelines, budgets and resource requirements
* Define test plans, conduct testing, analyse data and report results
* Prepare and maintain product documentation including BOMs, production packs, instructions and QA/test procedures
* Present clear project updates, design decisions and technical findings to stakeholders
* Work closely with manufacturing, suppliers and external consultants to deliver robust, manufacturable solutions
Skills & Experience
* Degree qualified in Mechanical or Electromechanical Engineering
* Minimum 5 years’ industry experience in a product development or R&D environment
* Proven track record of taking products from concept through to manufacture
* Strong experience designing mechanical and electro-mechanical assemblies
* Excellent knowledge of manufacturing processes and materials
* Strong proficiency with SolidWorks and SolidWorks PDM
* Experience working directly with suppliers, including sourcing, technical discussions and relationship management
* Exposure to electronics design and implementation is advantageous but not essential
Personal Attributes
* Proactive, ownership-driven mindset
* Comfortable working independently and making engineering decisions
* Hands-on approach with prototypes, assemblies and testing
* Clear, confident communicator, both written and verbal
* Resilient and determined when solving complex engineering problems
* Highly organised with strong attention to detail
* Genuine enthusiasm for engineering, product development and continuous improvement
Additional Information
* Role is primarily on-site to support collaboration, prototyping and testing
* Candidates must be able to work effectively in business-level English
* UK driving licence required
* Applicants should live within a commutable distance of the Essex site
Package & Benefits
* Competitive salary
* Workplace pension
* 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
* Additional day off for your birthday
* Option to purchase additional unpaid leave
* Company laptop/PC
* Structured induction and ongoing training