At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead mechanical design projects and solve complex engineering challenges.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at Marshall Land Systems, known for innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy 27 days holiday, private medical insurance, and flexible benefits.
- Other info: Collaborate globally and support the growth of junior engineers.
- Why this job: Make a real impact with varied projects and technical ownership.
- Qualifications: Degree in Engineering, Mathematics or Physics; experience in mechanical design.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
This is an excellent opportunity for a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer who wants technical ownership, programme variety and the chance to influence real engineering outcomes. This is a Mechanical Design role, focused on the design, development, modification and support of complex physical products. You will use Autodesk Inventor for 3D CAD, detailed design and drawing production, with Windchill PLM used for product data management, configuration control, engineering change and release.
At Marshall Land Systems, our mechanical design engineers do not work on the same product day after day. Our programmes are varied, technically challenging and often bespoke, meaning every project brings a different engineering problem to solve. Our teams work across a wide range of specialist land systems, including deployable infrastructure, command and control modules, medical and support facilities, protected mobility solutions, mission systems and complex vehicle‑mounted equipment.
This role is not about repeatedly designing the same product. You will support bids, new product development, modifications, configuration control, production support, integration, trials and in‑service improvements. One programme may require structural design and welded frame development, another may involve packaging systems into a constrained module, while another may focus on manufacturability, integration or customer‑specific modifications.
As a Senior Engineer – Mechanical Design, you will be expected to apply sound engineering judgement, guide others, make technical decisions and help maintain continuity of design intent across complex programmes. You will also support the development of less experienced engineers through technical guidance, coaching and checking. You will be joining a strong and supportive mechanical design team, working from our modern Cambridge offices and collaborating with colleagues across the UK, Canada and the Netherlands. This opportunity is a hybrid role requiring you to be onsite in Cambridge around 50‑70% of the time.
A Senior Engineer – Mechanical Design is required to take lead responsibility for mechanical design activities, provide continuity of design intent and configuration control, and ensure effective coordination across programme, manufacturing, supply chain, quality and integration stakeholders. The role will be to act as a senior mechanical design engineer, providing Subject Matter Expert leadership and guidance in the development of bids and delivery of projects. There will also be occasions where the successful candidate will lead specific projects or work packages.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Act as a Mechanical Design Subject Matter Expert across bids, projects and product modifications.
- Take technical ownership of mechanical design activities across varied programmes and product types.
- Produce, review and check mechanical design outputs, including 3D models, 2D drawings, item lists, product structures, design data and technical documentation.
- Use Autodesk Inventor to develop robust 3D models, assemblies, drawings and design solutions.
- Use Windchill PLM to manage product data, configuration control, engineering change, item data, Bills of Material and release activity.
- Support the generation of complex mechanical design architectures for new and existing product design concepts, from initial risk assessment and feasibility studies through to functional design freeze.
- Lead technical input into bids, modifications and project delivery activities.
- Generate, review and check technical documentation, including project plans, technical proposals, customer and supplier statements of work, design data and certification evidence.
- Apply sound systems engineering thinking to mechanical design activities.
- Work with stakeholder and customer requirements to derive internal design requirements.
- Develop mechanical approaches for modifications, upgrades and new project work.
- Provide technical leadership, coaching and support to mechanical design engineers and early careers engineers.
- Support continuity of design intent and maintain configuration control across complex programmes.
- Support design reviews, technical reviews and change boards.
- Work collaboratively with programme, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, integration and operations teams.
- Support the resolution of technical issues during build, integration, trials and in‑service support.
- Help improve engineering quality, design standards, manufacturability and ways of working across the Mechanical Design function.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory, customer and Marshall processes.
- Bring significant platform, product and regulatory experience to the efficient and effective completion of engineering data sets.
What makes someone successful here:
We are looking for engineers who enjoy solving practical problems, working with others and taking ownership of their work. The best people in our team are curious, hands‑on, comfortable with detail and able to balance technical quality with programme needs. You do not need to have worked on exactly the same products before. Experience in aerospace, defence, automotive, rail, special purpose machinery, heavy engineering, structural fabrication, vehicle systems, marine, energy or other complex engineering environments could all be relevant. What matters is your ability to think clearly, work from requirements, produce robust design solutions and collaborate across functions. If you are looking for a role where every project looks the same, this probably is not it. Our programmes vary significantly in size, scope, customer need and technical challenge. That variety keeps the work interesting and gives engineers the opportunity to keep learning, solve new problems and build a broad engineering skillset.
Qualifications:
Qualified to degree level in Engineering, Mathematics or Physics with relevant and sufficient experience in the field. Alternative qualifications and/or experience will be considered.
Apply if you have most of the following:
- Demonstrable experience working as a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer or experienced Mechanical Design Engineer within a complex engineering environment.
- Experience producing, reviewing or checking mechanical design data, including 3D models, 2D drawings, item lists, product structures and technical documentation.
- Experience using Autodesk Inventor for mechanical design would be beneficial.
- Experience with other 3D CAD systems will also be considered.
- Experience using Windchill PLM for product data management, configuration control, engineering change and release would be beneficial.
- Experience with other PLM or PDM systems will also be considered.
- Strong understanding of mechanical design delivery, including CAD modelling, drawing production, design checking, configuration management and release.
- Ability to apply sound systems engineering thinking to mechanical design work.
- In‑depth understanding of industry standard design practices such as tolerance assessment, design for manufacture and assembly, configuration management and design governance.
- Experience working from stakeholder or customer requirements to derive practical internal design requirements.
- Experience developing mechanical approaches for modifications, upgrades, new designs or complex project work.
- Ability to compile technical reports, certification documentation and supporting design evidence.
- Understanding of mechanical certification and validation methods, with the ability to identify appropriate means of compliance.
- Experience planning and delivering complex tasks to schedule and budget.
- Ability to manage priorities across multiple projects or work packages.
- Confidence to provide sound technical input based on facts, evidence and engineering judgement.
- Ability to support, coach and guide less experienced engineers.
- Experience in aerospace or defence would be beneficial, but we are also interested in engineers from other complex or regulated engineering sectors such as automotive, rail, heavy engineering, special purpose machinery, structural fabrication, vehicle systems, marine, energy or industrial equipment.
- Structural design experience would be beneficial, including understanding of structural theory and experience developing structural solutions, particularly for steel welded frames.
The benefits we will offer you include:
- 27 days holiday increasing with service up to 30 days, with the option to buy or sell leave.
- Pension contributions up to 9%.
- Private medical insurance.
- Extensive flexible benefit programme including Cycle to Work.
- Life assurance at 4x basic salary.
- Enhanced parental leave and pay.
- Paid volunteering leave.
- Access to industry‑leading wellbeing resources and tools.
Senior Engineer Mechanical Design employer: Broughton Group
At Marshall Land Systems, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where Senior Mechanical Design Engineers can thrive. Our modern Cambridge offices foster a collaborative culture, providing opportunities for professional growth through diverse and challenging projects that encourage innovation and technical ownership. With a strong focus on employee wellbeing, we offer generous benefits including flexible holiday options, private medical insurance, and access to industry-leading resources, making us an attractive choice for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Engineer Mechanical Design
✨Get Your Hands Dirty at Engineering Events
Join local engineering meetups or industry conferences related to mechanical engineering. Whether it's a workshop or a career fair, these events are goldmines for networking and getting a foot in the door. Plus, you can showcase your passion and enthusiasm directly to potential employers like Broughton Group.
✨Connect with Professors & Peers
Tap into your university’s resources—professors often have connections in the industry. Don’t be shy to ask about potential openings or recommendations. Your classmates might also know of companies hiring. Often, it’s who you know that gets you in front of the right people!
✨Highlight Your Projects and Practical Experience
When you land those interviews, make sure to talk about your hands-on projects or internships. Whether it's a design project or hands-on experience with CAD software, specific examples will make you stand out. Companies like Broughton Group love to hear about practical applications of your skills.
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
Check out the careers page of Broughton Group and apply directly through there. It shows initiative and interest in their specific values. Plus, you'll often find openings that aren't advertised on job boards, giving you a better chance to land that full-time gig!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Engineer Mechanical Design
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Expertise:In mechanical engineering, it’s vital to highlight your technical skills and projects. Make sure to include relevant software proficiency (like CAD tools) in your CV. If you've worked on specific engineering projects, detail your key contributions — we want to see how you’ve applied your skills in a practical setting!
Focus on Problem-Solving Examples:Employers in mechanical engineering love to see how you handle challenges. Use your cover letter to share specific instances where you’ve solved a complex problem or improved a design. This will show us you're not just knowledgeable but also capable of applying that knowledge effectively.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Include any relevant certifications or training that can set you apart from the competition. Whether it's coursework from your degree, a recognised certification, or extra training in new technologies, we love to see candidates who continuously improve their skill set. This tells us you're serious about your career in engineering!
Tailor Your CV for the Role:Don’t forget to customise your CV for Broughton Group and the Senior Engineer Mechanical Design role specifically. Pull examples from your experience that align with the job description — it shows us you've done your research and are genuinely interested in becoming part of the team. We recommend applying through our website to ensure your application gets to the right people!
How to prepare for a job interview at Broughton Group
✨Brush Up on Your CAD Skills
Since mechanical engineering often involves design processes, be ready to showcase your proficiency in CAD software like SolidWorks or AutoCAD. Bring along a digital portfolio or even some sketches that demonstrate your design capabilities — it’s a great way to show what you can bring to the table at Broughton Group.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect technical questions that test your understanding of engineering principles and problem-solving skills. You might get hypothetical scenarios where you need to design a component or troubleshoot a mechanical system. Practising these types of questions will give you the confidence to tackle whatever comes your way!
✨Show Your Team Spirit
As a full-time mechanical engineer, collaboration is key! Be ready to share examples of past team projects or any experiences where you contributed to solving a complex problem with others. Demonstrating your ability to work in a team will resonate well with the interviewers at Broughton Group.
✨Discuss Your Future Goals
Since this is a full-time position, your long-term vision is important. Be open about your career aspirations, whether it’s mastering a specific tool or leading projects. This shows that you're committed not just to learning but also to growing with Broughton Group, making you a more appealing candidate.