Senior Product Design Engineer Preston, Lancashire | Full Time | On-site + Hybrid Salary: £48,000 – £55,000 (DOE)
At npd, we believe in design that does good. We’re not about next season’s gimmicks - we solve real-world problems through thoughtful, technically rigorous product development. We’ve built a reputation as a UK product design agency that takes on the “impossible”: deeply technical challenges across consumer, industrial, healthcare, and sustainability sectors.
Based in Preston, with spaces in Manchester and London, we live by the philosophy that great design deserves more than a good sketch. We make things, test them, iterate, and bring them to market - and when something is worth it, we invest ourselves.
We only work on projects we truly believe in. If a product doesn’t deserve to exist, we’re not afraid to say no.
What You'll Do
* Lead major, cross‑functional product programmes, owning everything from concept to manufacturing and launch.
* Act as a deputy to the Head of Design - shaping technical strategy, mentoring engineers/designers, and raising the bar on design excellence.
* Apply specialist skills (FEA, systems engineering, complex mechanical design, sustainability, or other deep technical expertise) to drive innovation.
* Champion the full product lifecycle: CAD, prototyping, DfM, testing, supplier engagement.
* Deliver to clients with confidence: present, workshop, and consult on design decisions grounded in real engineering.
* Help foster our collaborative, outcomes‑driven culture, mentoring mid‑ and senior‑level talent across the studio.
What We're Looking For
* 8+ years in product design or mechanical engineering (or equivalent)
* Proven experience shipping real products, not just concepts
* Strong CAD skills + deep understanding of design for manufacture
* Experience leading complex technical programmes
* Strategic thinker with excellent communication skills
* Hands‑on with prototyping, testing, and supplier‑facing engineering
* A portfolio that demonstrates both creativity and technical discipline
Bonus if you have
* FEA / simulation experience
* Systems engineering or embedded / electronics integration
* Leading client workshops or cross‑domain teams
What You'll Get
* £48k–£55k, depending on experience and leadership level
* Hybrid working: based in Preston with 1 flexible work‑from‑home day, depending on Project phase
* Real ownership of projects
* Variety: consumer, industrial, sustainable, and high‑impact projects
* Training / development budget to grow your specialism
* Collaborative, “hands‑dirty” culture - we prototype, test, iterate, get things built
* A sense of purpose: we choose work that deserves to exist and creates positive impact
Why Join npd?
* You're not just designing for handoff - you’ll shape real products that go to market.
* You’ll work with an ambitious, mission‑driven team rooted in Lancashire, proud of our local impact and global reach.
* You’ll lead from the front - not just in design, but in engineering, sustainability, and strategy.
Ready to make good things real?
Send your CV + portfolio (or links to work) to hello@npd.studio — we’d love to talk.
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