At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering improvements and ensure product reliability for a top electric golf trolley brand.
- Company: Join the UK's number one electric golf trolley brand with a small, dynamic team.
- Benefits: Earn £50,000-£55,000, enjoy 25 days holiday, and clear progression opportunities.
- Other info: Opportunity for travel to Far East suppliers as the role develops.
- Why this job: Make impactful design decisions and own product quality in a growing engineering team.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in design engineering, SolidWorks skills, and strong analytical abilities.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 55000 £ per year.
Engineering a product back to its best takes more than good CAD. The UK’s number one electric golf trolley brand needs a Senior Design Engineer who can own reliability, lead failure analysis, and hold suppliers commercially accountable when things go wrong. Basingstoke, £50,000-£55,000, 25 days holiday. Small team. Real authority. Your engineering judgement shapes every product.
The Role
- As a Senior Design Engineer, you will lead engineering improvements to current products, drive reliability, own the quality and warranty picture, and bring your technical judgement to every new product across the team.
- You will also play a real part in the next full trolley programme.
- Lead root cause analysis on field and production failures, developing corrective and preventative design solutions.
- Own DFMEA, PFMEA and DVP test plans from development through to sign-off.
- Recover warranty cost from UK and Far East suppliers when failures are their responsibility.
- Hold the line in tooling and cost negotiations so the business is not overcharged.
- Bring engineering judgement to new product design, contributing to the next major trolley programme.
What We Are Looking For
- Proven, senior-level experience as a Senior Design Engineer, Mechanical Design Engineer or equivalent, working on consumer products people actually buy.
- Solid SolidWorks skills and a genuinely analytical engineering approach: DFMEA, PFMEA and DVP test planning are core, not optional.
- A track record of root cause analysis, warranty reduction and holding suppliers accountable, including recovering costs and corrective actions.
- Commercial confidence in supplier negotiations: comfortable dealing with Far East suppliers and not easily moved.
- Decisive and committed: you make design calls under pressure and push them through to production.
Salary And Benefits
- £50,000-£55,000
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Clear scope for progression
- Far East supplier travel as the role develops
This is a senior technical seat in a small, growing engineering team inside a market-leading consumer hardware business. The Senior Design Engineer joining now will have real authority and a wide remit: current product reliability, supplier accountability, and a genuine stake in new product development. The product has real depth, compact mechanisms, touchscreen GPS, remote control functionality, designed and assembled in the UK. For an experienced engineer who wants ownership rather than a narrow lane, this is a rare mix.
How To Apply
Want to find out more? Click apply and we will be in touch.
Senior Design Engineer in Southampton employer: Kodu
As the UK's leading electric golf trolley brand, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic work environment where innovation and engineering excellence thrive. Our small, close-knit team offers you the authority to make impactful decisions, with clear opportunities for progression and the chance to engage directly with suppliers, enhancing your professional growth. With competitive salaries, generous holiday allowances, and the unique opportunity to travel to the Far East as the role develops, we are committed to supporting our employees in achieving both personal and professional success.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Design Engineer in Southampton
✨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 Kodu.
✨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 Kodu love to hear about practical applications of your skills.
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
Check out the careers page of Kodu 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 Design Engineer in Southampton
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 Kodu and the Senior 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 Kodu
✨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 Kodu.
✨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 Kodu.
✨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 Kodu, making you a more appealing candidate.
