Innovation Engineer in Grantham

Lincat is a thriving manufacturing business, one of the world's leading names in commercial catering equipment with over 50 years experience delivering world-class innovation and product quality to its extensive customer base. Our company manufactures 50,000 products each year and exports to over 80 countries. We have great products, great people and great customers.

We are looking for a highly skilled Innovation Engineer to join our Research and Development team at Lincat. In this role, you will play a key part in streamlining new products to support Lincat's growth. The successful candidate will be responsible for identifying new product opportunities and developing prototypes to validate these ideas. You will collaborate with third parties, including suppliers and universities, to bring innovative concepts to fruition. You will contribute to engineering projects that develop these concepts into market-ready products.

Working closely with Sales and customers, you will identify challenges and develop solutions to capitalise on opportunities. You will agree target projects with the Lincat Directors, Engineering Manager and Marketing Manager, and provide support to current products when required.

Hours of work
This role is based on 40 hours per week, working Monday to Friday.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

• Idea generation: Work with the Lincat commercial team and development chefs to understand market trends and product enhancement opportunities. Monitor competitor activity. Agree target projects with the Lincat Directors and Marketing Manager.
• Concept development: Develop ideas and prototypes to establish the feasibility of ideas. Support marketing with the development of product specifications and the project manager with the development of the project timing plan.
• Product design: Support the design of new product ranges by either handing on proven concepts or participating in the design and production ramp-up phase.
• Specifications: Work iteratively with sales and marketing to develop and document product requirement specifications, including cost, performance, features, and DFM requirements.
• Product approval: Support the design of new product ranges by either handing on proven concepts or participating in the design and production ramp-up phase.
• Product testing: Organise, manage and conduct testing of new products to support design, quality and sourcing (cost reduction and new suppliers) activities.
• Product knowledge: Engineers should develop their product, component and systems knowledge and be able to effectively contribute to technical work with supporting data and evidence.
• Product support: Lincat manufactures and markets a wide range of products. The engineering team needs to support these products in a variety of ways including answering questions from customers, commercial and operations colleagues. Engineers should develop their product knowledge and support products when requested.
• Production preparation: Document product manufacturing work instructions and advise production of any jigs and test equipment that will be required. Work with Inspection/Quality to ensure inspection procedures are updated and modified if required.
• Optimising products for production: New designs should achieve production and warranty objectives within the original NPD project. Consult with operators during all builds, seek feedback and modify designs to aid assembly.

Essential Skills and Knowledge:

• 3D CAD experience is essential, particularly in sheet metal design (Solid Edge).
• Sheet metal manufacturing processes (cutting, folding, welding, jointing).
• Mechanical and electrical dexterity is essential to assemble components, test jigs and fixtures.
• Understanding of gas and electrical appliance heating and control systems.
• Engineering analysis.
• Attention to detail, particularly regarding safety requirements.
• Product and project costing experience; able to work from concept to completion.
• Excellent time management and prioritisation skills; understanding how to move projects forward to maximise contribution.
• Goal-focused, demonstrating drive and commitment to achieve results within agreed timescales.
• Commercial awareness.
• Effective team worker, able to support colleagues and build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Good testing experience.
• Competent in Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Formal engineering qualification HNC, HND, or Degree (preferably mechanical) is advantageous; equivalent industry experience is relevant if CPD and engineering knowledge are demonstrated.
• Mechanical or electrical qualifications are advantageous.
• Ability and willingness to travel to supplier sites when necessary, including overseas, and flexibility in working hours to respond to urgent issues.