Job Title: Mechanical Design Engineer
Salary Range: £35,000 – £50,000 DOE
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: Ipswich
Working Hours:
* Monday to Thursday: 08:00–17:00
* Friday: 08:00–15:00
Holiday Allowance:
* 20 days + 8 Bank Holidays
* Holiday increases with service (1 extra day per year after 5 years, up to 25 days)
Pension: Standard auto-enrolment scheme
Christmas Shutdown: 2-week period
The Opportunity
This is a key appointment within the design function of the business, offering the chance to take full ownership of projects from cradle to grave. The successful candidate will play a vital role in developing high-performance agricultural machinery, working closely with production, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations, and maintaining the company’s high product standards.
Day-to-Day Responsibilities:
* Full concept-to-production mechanical design of agricultural machinery
* 3D modelling using Autodesk Inventor
* Generation of piece part drawings from 3D models
* Modification of existing designs and drawings as required
* Creation of Bills of Materials (BOMs)
* Liaison with production regarding build processes and change requests
* Interpretation of new and evolving UK/EU regulations
* Performing calculations to ensure regulatory compliance
* Occasional finite element analysis (FEA) – limited but useful
* Designs optimised for shipping container requirements
Essential Requirements:
* Degree or equivalent in Mechanical or Agricultural Engineering
* Minimum of 5 years’ experience in mechanical design
* Heavy fabrication experience – large assemblies (up to 15 tonnes)
* Fully fluent in 3D CAD (Inventor preferred, SolidWorks/Creo acceptable)
* Strong communication skills – must be fluent in English
* Must be willing to work full-time on-site (no hybrid/remote options)
* Strong attention to detail and ability to manage the design process through the full lifecycle
Desirable Experience:
* Prior experience with Autodesk Inventor (preferred)
* FEA or structural calculations experience
* Knowledge of agricultural machinery or attachments
* Familiarity with regulatory standards affecting trailer/agricultural design