Lead Mechanical Design Engineer - Engines in Shoreham-by-Sea

Overview

Location: Shoreham - UK, Leamington Spa - UK, Prague - Czechia

Ricardo, part of WSP, is a global strategic, environmental, and engineering consulting company with more than 100 years of engineering excellence. We enable customers to solve complex, dynamic challenges and work towards a safe, sustainable world.

The Role

To be part of a Global Mechanical Design team, responsible for leading the design and development of a wide range of engine products from light‑duty gasoline to off‑highway engines across multiple market sectors. The Lead Mechanical Design Engineer will support business development to win Engine projects and then lead a Mechanical Design team to deliver a particular mechanical system or complete product.

Key Responsibilities

• Define a complete engine by understanding functional and commercial requirements of all engine systems; apply systematic technology/architecture selection based on attributes and client requirements.
• Identify opportunities to innovate and suggest R&D topics through technology and market research.
• Technically support the business development team to showcase Ricardo’s competence and determine project scope, timing, delivery approach, and resource requirements, including customer communication remotely or face‑to‑face.
• Create innovative mechanical concepts and schemes from clean sheet for Engine products in any market sector application.
• Lead a project team conducting Mechanical Design work such as 2D layouts, 3D CAD modelling, stress and mechanical design calculations, FMEAs, and 2D detailing and tolerance stacks.
• Lead, participate in, and approve Mechanical Design reviews.
• Ensure quality of technical work meets time and cost targets.
• Create professional technical reports for Engineering projects and present to the client.
• Work closely with assembly, manufacturing and process engineers to design for manufacture and assembly.
• Check and approve detail 2D drawings (including GD&T) suitable for prototype and volume production.
• Approve assembly documentation to support prototype and production builds (e.g. Bill of Materials and Process Assembly Instructions).
• Support the initial build of products, prototype testing, and validation testing programmes.
• Coach and mentor Design Engineers in Engine technology, design techniques and departmental processes; no personnel management responsibility.
• Follow, maintain, and develop Ricardo’s Mechanical Design processes.
• Undertake process improvement activities to develop and implement design best‑practice guidelines.
• Keep up to date on and disseminate: Latest manufacturing techniques and drawing standards, latest technology trends, latest developments in design tools.
• Able to travel to support Ricardo’s worldwide client base.

Key Competencies And Experience

• Degree‑qualified Mechanical Engineer (or equivalent in Mechanical, Physics, Aerospace or Automotive Engineering).
• Proven experience designing engine components, assemblies, and products across development programmes.
• Strong application of engineering principles to develop and guide optimal powertrain solutions, with the ability to apply first‑principles thinking across both established and novel challenges.
• Strong knowledge of engine subsystems, including cranktrain, cylinder block/head, ancillary drive, cooling, timing drive, valvetrain, lubrication & CCV, fuel, intake, exhaust systems and vehicle packaging, with ability to define and approve subsystem designs.
• Experience with engine component manufacturing processes from prototype to production.
• Strong understanding of product development lifecycle, from requirements capture through to design validation.
• Experience creating and reviewing DFMEA and assessing design risk.
• Ability to analyse FEA, CFD, 1D and MBD results and apply findings to improve designs.
• Proven delivery of engine projects from clean sheet design through to hardware development, meeting quality and milestone targets.
• Understanding of project management methods in a delivery‑focused environment.
• Strong problem‑solving and analytical skills with a detail‑focused approach.
• Confident, proactive and self‑motivated, able to work independently and within teams.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively in written, verbal, and customer‑facing settings.
• Experience working in fast‑paced, matrix organisations and managing competing priorities.
• Ability to prepare and present design concepts and technical proposals to stakeholders and customers.
• Able to handle confidential information appropriately.
• Willingness to take ownership and deliver against business goals and objectives.

Desirable Competencies And Experience

• Understanding of other engineering functions, including analysis, simulation, hydraulics, development, test, assembly, and control systems.
• Exposure to or interest in powertrain electrification.
• Awareness of intellectual property (IP), including experience with patent searching and review.
• Experience using 3D CAD systems such as CATIA V5/V6, Creo, or NX.
• Familiarity with PLM systems such as Windchill or similar platforms.
• Experience managing Engineering Change Control (ECN) processes and related documentation.
• Automotive industry experience is preferable but not essential.

Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion statement

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe in each person's potential and will help you reach yours. We have an ambitious diversity, equality, and inclusion approach and are recognised as a ‘disability confident’ employer. Diversity enhances innovation and drives better consultancy services for our clients.