Mechanical Engineering Industrial Placement Year (2026-2027)

We already count several of the world’s largest waste management companies among our clients and are experiencing accelerated growth. We are now looking for a Year in Industry Mechanical Design Engineer to support the continuous development of our products. In this role, you will take ownership of key mechanical subsystems within Qualibot and Quantisort 2.0, designing, testing, and improving components. You will work across both the design and production teams, based mainly at our manufacturing centre in east London, with occasional site visits to gain hands‑on industrial experience.

Quantisort 2.0 is a versatile, high‑speed optical sorter used across multiple waste industries. Your design work will focus on improving pneumatic ejection performance and packaging components to operate reliably in harsh, high‑throughput environments. On the production side, you will help move projects through client plant design, build, factory acceptance testing, and installation, while continuously improving processes to support scalability. This is a highly varied role centred on an innovative product in a fast‑paced “scale up” environment, offering real responsibility and exposure across the full product lifecycle. The interview process for this role is expected to start in April 2026.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop mechanical components and assemblies in SolidWorks, including sheet metal, welded structures and full assembly drawings.
• Own supplier engagement: RFQs, DFM discussions, cost reviews and order placement.
• Design and iterate subsystems within the Quantisort 2.0 optical sorter (control panels, ejection systems, structural elements and vision system integration).
• Conduct value engineering and cost‑reduction initiatives.
• Support installations and commissioning across Europe.
• Provide first‑line engineering support for field issues and contribute to root cause analysis.
• Contribute to DFM/DFA improvements, build documentation and process optimisation.
• Support R&D projects (e.g. pneumatic optimisation across varying waste streams).
• Participate in design reviews and contribute to technical decision‑making.

Qualifications

• On track for at least a 2.1 in Mechanical Engineering or an equivalent subject.
• Highly proficient in SolidWorks, including sheet metal design, weld drawings and assembly drawings.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Strong understanding of core mechanical engineering principles, including tolerance stack‑ups and fitment.
• A proactive mindset in identifying problems and proposing improvements.
• Understanding of common manufacturing processes (e.g. laser cutting, bending, machining, welding).
• Basic understanding of pneumatics or automation systems.
• Able to balance cost, performance and manufacturability when making design decisions.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced environment.
• Passionate about environmental issues and solving problems within the recycling industry.
• Good written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to document work clearly.
• Comfortable working cross‑functionally with hardware, software and operations teams.
• Open to some travel within Europe.
• Within a commutable distance from London (4–5 days per week in Stratford).

It’s a bonus if you have…

• Hands‑on practical engineering experience (e.g. workshop projects, Formula Student, robotics teams, prototyping work).
• Experience assembling and installing equipment in situ.
• Experience working with sheet metal fabricators and machine shops.
• Experience rendering 3D models to a professional standard for marketing material.

Even if you don’t tick every box listed above but are motivated by our work and believe you can make a difference on our team, we’d really love to hear from you – so please do apply and drop us a note about what you bring!