Project Design Engineer in Leicester

A UK-based private limited company, founded in the early 2000s in Leicestershire, that designs and manufactures precision engineered components primarily for the aerospace and defence sectors. The company supplies customised solutions used across commercial, military and business aircraft, operating from a dedicated manufacturing facility and holds industry quality accreditations such as AS9100 and ISO 9001.

The Senior Project Design Engineer is responsible for delivering aerospace sealing projects from request for quotes, through to production implementation. The role combines design-to-specification capability, preparation of detailed technical proposals, including preliminary sealing designs & qualification plans and technical coordination of project activities to ensure compliant, manufacturable and commercially aligned solutions.

Responsibilities:

• Lead projects from concept through to implementation, including prototypes, new products, processes, equipment and materials.
• Develop and manage detailed project plans, identifying activities, resources and risks, providing structured updates to management and highlighting constraints impacting delivery.
• Compile and take ownership of detailed technical proposals at RFQ stage, including preliminary sealing designs, specification compliance statements, material selection rationale, technical risk assessments, and structured qualification and certification packages aligned to customer and regulatory requirements.
• Lead technical discussions during all stages, working closely with customers to define requirements and agree technical solutions.
• Provide regular technical communication and progress updates to customers throughout the project lifecycle.
• Review and manage project budgets, ensuring appropriate selection of materials, treatments, tooling and manufacturing methods to meet technical and cost objectives (in collaboration with Commercial/Application Engineering).
• Generate and oversee engineering activities arising from enquiry packages, including preliminary design concepts, tooling requirements, process capability assessment, resource evaluation and product/material qualification planning.
• Ensure all engineering requirements are defined and executed in line with NPI processes and customer expectations.
• Prepare and lead internal and external Design Reviews in accordance with business and customer requirements.
• Identify, assess and mitigate technical risks early in the project lifecycle.
• Act as technical authority for material and process qualifications, approvals and resolution of process-related issues or non-conformances, both internally and with customers.
• Ensure compliance with Health & Safety, Environmental, AS9100, military/ITAR and customer regulatory requirements.
• Maintain awareness of developments in production technology, materials and industry best practice relevant to aerospace sealing.

The Person:

• Degree in Materials or Engineering discipline.
• Experience delivering engineering projects within an aerospace.
• Product development and implementation experience.
• Understanding of Aerospace sealing concepts and applications.
• Knowledge of polymers processing and equipment.
• Familiarity with AS9100, ISO9001, Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing.
• Experience with design software and generating models, drawings.
• Technical reviews, material/part qualification/certification plans and reports.
• Design for Manufacture (DFM) experience.
• Familiarity with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for seal performance, deformation or stress evaluation.
• Strong problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent communication skills.

Please understand that due to the expected high number of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted directly.

For UK roles, candidates must be eligible to work and live in the United Kingdom. Proof of eligibility will be required with your application.