Mechanical / Hardware Engineer – Defence Technology (Field Hardening) | UK An early-stage UK defence technology company in Buckinghamshire is looking for a hands-on Mechanical Engineer to take their sensing product from working prototype to field-ready hardware. It already has real traction: selected for a major international defence innovation programme, demonstrated at a NATO exercise, and heading toward field trials with international defence partners over the coming months, with a first commercial contract targeted within the next year. The job now is to make it survive contact with the real world — connectors, enclosures, weatherproofing, vibration and thermal resistance — and to help the business move from hand-built units toward small-batch, repeatable manufacture. deep electronics design experience is not required. Designing rugged, field-ready enclosures and mounting solutions Hardening connectors and interfaces against water, vibration, and rough handling Working hands-on with sensor and compute hardware to manage thermal performance in a sealed housing Supporting rapid prototyping, bench testing, and field validation – including direct involvement in trials and exercises Helping transition the product toward scalable manufacture: BOMs, supplier relationships, design-for-manufacture decisions Hands-on mechanical/hardware engineering background – defence, aerospace, space, marine, motorsport, or robotics all considered Comfortable owning a problem independently in a small team with no engineering management layer – this is a "figure it out yourself" role, not one with a lot of oversight Open to candidates earlier in their career if the self-direction and hands-on evidence is there – this is about ability, not years served Genuine ownership of a problem that matters – your work will be tested in the field within weeks, not years UK-based, full-time. Some international travel required for trials and exercises. Interested candidates should be eligible to work in the UK and able to work with sensitive defence-related projects.
