Mechanical Design Manager - Special Purpose Machinery & Automation
đź“Ť Basildon, Essex (On-site, 5 days per week)
đź’· ÂŁ50,000 - ÂŁ60,000 per year (DOE)
đź•’ Full-time | Permanent
The Opportunity
A well-established and growing specialist in special purpose machinery and automation is looking to appoint a Mechanical Design Manager at their Basildon site. This is a key leadership role within the engineering function, responsible for managing and developing a team of 4-5 Mechanical Design Engineers, driving high-quality output across multiple machine-build projects.
This role is 100% on-site (Monday to Friday) with no hybrid working available, due to the hands‑on nature of the projects and close collaboration required with manufacturing and assembly.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead, mentor and develop a team of 4-5 Mechanical Design Engineers
* Manage workload planning, prioritisation and delivery across multiple projects
* Oversee the full mechanical design lifecycle from concept through to manufacture and commissioning
* Ensure mechanical designs meet functional, safety and manufacturing requirements
* Work closely with Project Managers, Electrical Design, Manufacturing, Assembly and Purchasing
* Drive best practice in design standards, documentation, BOM accuracy and revision control
* Support continuous improvement across design tools, processes and engineering outputs
* Participate in design reviews and provide technical sign‑off where required
What We’re Looking For
We’re looking for a strong mechanical design leader with hands‑on technical experience in automation and machinery design.
Essential
* Proven experience managing or leading a mechanical design team (or stepping up into management)
* Strong mechanical design background within special purpose machinery, automation, robotics, conveyors or industrial equipment
* Ability to drive output and quality across a fast‑paced engineering environment
* Confident communicator with strong organisational and leadership skills
Desirable
* Experience using Autodesk Inventor
* Experience with Vault / PDM / revision control systems
* Knowledge of design for manufacture and assembly (DFMA)
* Experience working closely with shop floor, build and commissioning teams
* âś… Other CAD package experience will be considered (SolidWorks, Creo, Catia, etc.), but Inventor/Vault exposure is a strong advantage
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