Principal Mechanical Design Engineer in Basingstoke

Our client is a market leading designer and manufacturer of environmental sensors, offering a variety of solutions to the green shipping, marine science, water quality, agriculture and defence sectors. They are a diverse and inclusive family of scientists, mechanical and electrical design engineers, manufacturing experts and business people who work to deliver new ways for the world to solve problems and protect the environment. There has never been a better time to join us as we grow and prepare for the next 60 years in business.

Our client is looking to appoint a Principal Mechanical Design Engineer to join the team and help develop the next generation of innovative and technologically complex instruments and systems for challenging and interesting applications.

Who would be a good fit? Becoming the next Principal Mechanical Design Engineer means joining a small and dedicated team of engineers and scientists who are designing technically advanced optical and acoustic instrumentation which is widely recognised for its quality and measurement performance. First and foremost, they are looking for someone who not only has a natural grasp of mechanics and mechanical principles, but someone who can seamlessly translate theory into a product that works well in the field and delivers an attractive and user friendly solution to our customers.

In addition to driving design work from concept through to medium volume manufacture, you will have a comprehensive understanding of standard drawing office requirements for build standard control and change note implementation as required.

• Design authority for all electronics, software and mechanical design activities within the company.
• Support the Director of Engineering in management of design & development projects.
• Assign tasks to the Mechanical Design team, setting project goals, negotiating with vendors and clients, ensuring projects stay within time and budgetary restraints.
• Mentoring and developing the team.
• Scientific instrumentation design from concept to final product.
• Forward look at design and manufacturing tools/techniques that could be adopted by the company.
• Specific product design activities within projects.
• Project Management.
• Bidding, business promotion and development.
• Product test and on-site commissioning.
• Customer liaison.

• A sound understanding of engineering disciplines & a high level of design ability and engineering knowledge is required.
• Project management skills with ability to plan budgets and resources necessary for successful project completion.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with ability to communicate goals to the team are required.
• Experience of leading and developing a design team in a high technology engineering environment.
• Exemplary leadership skills to manage the team's performance towards the company's objectives.
• Attention to detail and a keen understanding of tolerances, safety factors, component specifications, materials selection, testing and build standard control.
• Working knowledge of components, suppliers and processes.
• Ability to produce component and assembly drawings to a recognised standard.
• Adept at producing detailed standard engineering drawings.
• Comfortable demonstrating technical language and having technical conversations with other engineers.

To be successful in this role, you will need a comprehensive knowledge of fundamental engineering principles. Applicants should hold a degree in Mechanical Engineering (2.1 or higher) from a recognized university, have a number of years experience working as a design engineer in a high technology engineering environment and must be able to demonstrate the requisite level of design ability and a sound engineering knowledge base.

As well as being an excellent Principal Mechanical Design Engineer, you should be a self-starter with initiative and determination and ability to supervise and direct the team. Our team works closely together (and often toward tight timescales) to produce bespoke design solutions, or resolve technical issues for our customers, and we are looking for a collaborative, personable team player who is excited to work within a small, diverse, multi-disciplinary group.

Security clearance will be applied for on appointment. UK passport holders (no dual nationality) only plus proof of residency in UK for last 5 years.