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- Tasks: Design and develop innovative mechanical solutions for medical devices and scientific instruments.
- Company: Horizon Technology Consulting, a leading engineering consultancy in Cambridge.
- Benefits: Hybrid work model, hands-on experience, and collaboration with top engineers.
- Other info: Opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology and grow your career.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team tackling challenging projects and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: 10+ years of mechanical design experience and advanced SolidWorks skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
We're expanding our contractor network and looking for experienced contract Mechanical Design Engineers (10+ years) to work on technically demanding product development across medical devices, scientific instruments, and compact devices.
This is hands-on, end-to-end mechanical work: architecture through detailed design, prototyping, analysis, and design for manufacture. You'll be working alongside electronics and embedded software engineers on integrated devices where the mechanical, electrical, and thermal aspects all interact.
What we're looking for:
- Core mechanical design:
- Advanced SolidWorks user, comfortable with complex assemblies, top-down modelling, mechanism design, and surfacing
- Architecture design of complex devices such as auto-injectors, inhalers, diagnostic instruments, cameras, or similar
- Integration of electronics into mechanical design, including thermal management and sealing
- Tolerance analysis and identification of critical chains for repeatable device function
- Hand calculations for quick decision making with limited information
- FEA (linear, non-linear, thermal), kinematic and dynamic mechanism analysis, and CFD (internal and external flows) in Ansys, SolidWorks Simulation, Abaqus, or equivalent
- Design for high volume manufacture, including injection moulding, sheet metal, and assembly methods
- Design for prototyping across machining and the various additive processes
- Practical workshop skills, hand tool use, prototype assembly, and the ability to switch between small (mm scale) and larger parts
Useful additional skills:
- Photorealistic rendering in Keyshot, SolidWorks Visualize, or similar
- Photoshop for product design work
- Concept and user-interaction sketching
- CNC programming, tool path generation, tool selection, and jigging for 3 to 5 axis machining
About you:
Senior, hands-on, and happy working as part of a small team on hard problems. Comfortable making decisions with incomplete information and pushing concepts through to working prototypes.
This is a hybrid role, where part of your time will be spent on-site in our Cambridge office.
Who are we?
Horizon Technology Consulting Ltd is a Cambridge-based engineering consultancy specialising in complex systems work across electronics, embedded software, and mechanical design. We help product teams turn novel concepts into working demonstrators, early prototypes, and production ready designs working with clients across the UK and internationally.
Contract Mechanical Design Engineers in Cambridge employer: Horizon Technology Consulting Ltd
Contact Detail:
Horizon Technology Consulting Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Contract Mechanical Design Engineers in Cambridge
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to fellow engineers and industry contacts on LinkedIn or at local meetups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a contract role that’s perfect for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your best mechanical design projects, especially those involving SolidWorks and FEA. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and problem-solving skills. Be ready to discuss your hands-on experience with prototyping and design for manufacture – it’s all about demonstrating your expertise!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Contract Mechanical Design Engineers in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Skills: Make sure to highlight your experience with SolidWorks and any complex assemblies you've worked on. We want to see how you tackle architecture design and integrate electronics into mechanical designs, so don’t hold back!
Be Specific About Your Experience: When detailing your past projects, focus on the specifics. Mention any medical devices or scientific instruments you've designed, and include details about your hands-on work with prototyping and analysis. This helps us understand your fit for the role.
Tailor Your Application: Don’t just send a generic CV! Tailor your application to reflect the skills and experiences mentioned in the job description. We love seeing candidates who take the time to connect their background with what we’re looking for.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it makes the process smoother for everyone involved!
How to prepare for a job interview at Horizon Technology Consulting Ltd
✨Know Your Tools Inside Out
Make sure you're well-versed in SolidWorks and any other software mentioned in the job description. Brush up on your skills with complex assemblies, top-down modelling, and mechanism design. Being able to demonstrate your proficiency will show that you’re ready to hit the ground running.
✨Showcase Your Hands-On Experience
Prepare to discuss specific projects where you've worked on mechanical design from architecture to prototyping. Highlight your practical workshop skills and how you've integrated electronics into your designs. Real-world examples will help you stand out as a candidate who can tackle hard problems.
✨Understand the Product Lifecycle
Familiarise yourself with the entire product development process, especially in medical devices and scientific instruments. Be ready to talk about design for manufacture and how you’ve approached tolerance analysis and critical chains in past projects. This shows you understand the bigger picture.
✨Be Ready for Technical Questions
Expect questions on FEA, kinematic analysis, and thermal management. Brush up on your hand calculations and be prepared to explain your thought process when making decisions with limited information. This will demonstrate your analytical skills and ability to work under pressure.