Mechanical Design Engineer in Cambridge

Mechanical Design Engineer in Cambridge

Cambridge Full-Time 45000 - 55000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Design and develop innovative robotic platforms for fruit harvesting.
  • Company: Join a pioneering robotics company transforming agriculture with cutting-edge technology.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, profit sharing, hybrid working, and flexible hours.
  • Other info: Exciting career progression opportunities in a fast-scaling environment.
  • Why this job: Work on groundbreaking projects that make a real impact in farming.
  • Qualifications: Degree in Mechanical Engineering and experience in robotics or automation.

The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.

Company Overview

Fieldwork Robotics is a pioneering autonomous robotics company developing modular, multi-crop, soft and adaptive robots designed to operate in real-world, non-controllable environments such as agricultural fields.

Our mission is to transform farming through intelligent, scalable robotic systems that improve productivity, sustainability, and efficiency.

We operate a growing R&D headquarters in Cambridge and are establishing a new engineering hub in Lisbon following the incorporation of our Portugal subsidiary.

Our teams work collaboratively across hardware, software, and operations to deliver reliable, production-grade autonomous robots.

Job Summary

We are seeking a talented and enthusiastic Mechanical Engineer to join our technology team.

In this role, you will design, build and test our next generation of robotic fruit harvesting platforms.

You will collaborate closely with our electrical, electronic, software, vision.

ML and data engineers.

You may be involved in designing a new product from blank sheet of paper, improving an existing product or developing a concept.

You will have the opportunity to see your designs implemented into production and scaled to operate across large farms around the world.

What we are developing has not been done before, you will be presented with very interesting engineering problems to solve.

Responsibilities

  • Design and development of the autonomous robotic platform for fruit harvesting.
  • Cross functional team communication to manage design specifications and align scope with resource.
  • Using systems /block diagrams to effectively communicate and demonstrate understanding of architectural design changes
  • Use of rapid development tools to provide agile response to engineering problems.
  • Ensure the designs meet their commercial and functional requirements.
  • Work closely with suppliers to fabricate parts and build systems.
  • Work collaboratively with the electrical, electronics and software teams to verify and validate the products you have designed.
  • Work collaboratively with the electrical, electronics and software teams to create the technical construction file for safety and regulatory compliance.
  • Create and manage the Design pack and Manufacturing pack.
  • Support the transfer to manufacture when we start to build fleets of robots.
  • Support the design review process including the review of your peer’s work.
  • Contribute to the continuous improvement and cost reductions activities.
  • Contribution to development of IP portfolio and Roadmap.
  • Resource estimation for your designs and management of your time and priorities to achieve agreed budget and timelines.
  • Support occasional field trips for technology testing and validation at grower’s sites.
  • Prepare and present technical updates to your stakeholders, peers, board, clients and investors

Qualifications/Experience

  • Degree or HNC/HND in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent discipline.
  • Minimum of 4 years of product development experience within a design and manufacturing environment.
  • Experience designing robotics, moving machines, rotary machines or automation.
  • Experience in the full product development lifecycle for highly integrated mechatronics systems, particularly using 3D CAD Solid Works.
  • Experience with packaging electronics and cable and harness management.
  • Ability to produce production standard 3D CAD models and drawings using Solid Works, perform tolerance stack-up analysis and GD&T to ensure design clearances and fits and work with suppliers to improve designs for manufacturability.
  • Ability to lead projects, understand customer needs to support design decisions and interpret the impact of customer requirements on mechanical specifications, defining scope, and manage available resources.
  • Proficiency in handling multiple projects simultaneously, meeting deadlines, and effectively managing priorities.
  • Experience in design for manufacturing principles for a range of manufacturing methods, with working knowledge of injection moulding, casting, CNC, sheet metal, material selection.
  • Experience using FEA to verify designs.
  • Experience designing robot arm actuators and end-effectors/grippers from scratch.
  • Strong problem-solving, analytical, and organizational skills with attention to detail.
  • Excellent team working ethic with the ability to work autonomously with minimal supervision.
  • Strong communication skills, communicate successes and challenges, not scared to ask for support.

What We Offer

  • Competitive salary and benefits package
  • Profit sharing / share options
  • Hybrid working model
  • Flexible working hours
  • On-site parking (UK)
  • Casual dress
  • Company events & social activities
  • Career progression in a fast-scaling robotics company
  • Opportunity to work on real-world autonomous robots deployed in production environments
  • #J-18808-Ljbffr

Mechanical Design Engineer in Cambridge employer: Fieldwork Robotics

Fieldwork Robotics is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the heart of Cambridge and a new engineering hub in Lisbon. With a focus on innovation in autonomous robotics, employees enjoy competitive salaries, profit sharing, and flexible working arrangements, all while contributing to groundbreaking technology that transforms agriculture. The collaborative culture fosters professional growth, allowing team members to tackle unique engineering challenges and see their designs come to life in real-world applications.

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Contact Details:

Fieldwork Robotics Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Mechanical Design Engineer in Cambridge

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 Fieldwork Robotics.

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 Fieldwork Robotics love to hear about practical applications of your skills.

Apply Directly on Company Websites

Check out the careers page of Fieldwork Robotics 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 Mechanical Design Engineer in Cambridge

Mechanical Engineering
Product Development
Robotics Design
3D CAD SolidWorks
Tolerance Stack-Up Analysis
GD&T
Project Management

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 Fieldwork Robotics and the Mechanical Design Engineer 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 Fieldwork Robotics

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 Fieldwork Robotics.

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 Fieldwork Robotics.

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 Fieldwork Robotics, making you a more appealing candidate.