At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and coordinate design activities across exciting engineering projects.
- Company: A growing engineering business in Blackburn with a dynamic culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 25 days holiday, early finish Fridays, and career progression.
- Other info: Join a stable company with a strong order book and growth potential.
- Why this job: Shape design project delivery and make a real impact in a newly created role.
- Qualifications: Experience in mechanical design and team leadership is essential.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 50000 £ per year.
A growing engineering business based in Blackburn is looking to appoint a Lead Design Engineer into a newly created position. This is not a replacement hire. The Lead Design Engineer role has been created due to increased workload, a strong order book, and continued business growth.
With the Engineering Director currently overseeing both strategic engineering direction and day-to-day design activity, there is now a need for an experienced design professional to take ownership of project delivery, support the design team, and help ensure engineering projects are completed efficiently, accurately, and on time.
This position sits between the Engineering Director and the Design Team, giving the successful Lead Design Engineer the opportunity to remain technically hands-on while also taking a key role in coordinating and guiding design activity across live projects.
The Role
This is a hands-on design leadership role. You will still be involved in technical design work, but you will also act as the main point of support for the Design Team on live engineering projects. As Lead Design Engineer, you will help ensure design work is delivered to specification, within scope, and in line with project timescales.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Leading and coordinating design activity across multiple engineering projects
- Supporting, guiding, and mentoring Design Engineers on technical delivery
- Acting as the link between the Engineering Director and the Design Team
- Reviewing design work and helping maintain engineering standards
- Ensuring designs are completed accurately, on time, and to specification
- Supporting project delivery from concept through to manufacture
- Helping improve design processes, workflows, and internal engineering standards
- Remaining hands-on with mechanical design work when required
- Working closely with internal departments to ensure practical, manufacturable design solutions
What We're Looking For
This role would suit someone with a strong background in capital equipment, special purpose machinery, fabricated equipment, automated machinery, process equipment, or bespoke engineered systems. You may currently be working as a Senior Design Engineer, Lead Mechanical Design Engineer, Principal Design Engineer, Design Team Leader, Mechanical Design Lead, Project Design Engineer, or Mechanical Design Engineer ready to take a step up.
The ideal candidate will have:
- Experience in a senior, lead, or project-focused mechanical design role
- A background in capital equipment, machinery design, automation, or special purpose machinery
- Strong mechanical design and practical engineering knowledge
- The ability to balance hands-on design work with team coordination
- Experience supporting or guiding other Design Engineers
- A good understanding of manufacturing processes and design for manufacture
- The ability to work in a fast-paced, project-led engineering environment
- Strong communication skills and the confidence to act as a technical point of contact
Why This Lead Design Engineer Role Stands Out
This is a newly created position with genuine scope to make an impact. You will not be stepping into an existing role with fixed ways of working. Instead, you will have the opportunity to help shape how design projects are delivered, how the design team is supported, and how engineering standards continue to develop as the business grows.
Benefits and reasons to apply include:
- Salary of £45,000 - £50,000 per annum
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Early finish at 1pm every Friday
- Newly created position
- Clear opportunity to influence design project delivery
- Strong order book and long-term project pipeline
- Real progression potential as the business continues to grow
- Hands-on technical design role with added leadership responsibility
- Stable, growing engineering business
Location and Commute
This office-based role is located in Blackburn and is commutable from surrounding areas including Darwen, Accrington, Burnley, Preston, Chorley, Leyland, Clitheroe, Nelson, Rossendale, Bolton, Bury, Wigan, Ribble Valley, and parts of Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
Interested? If you are looking to step into a leadership role, or you are already operating as a Lead Design Engineer and want more influence over project delivery, this could be a strong next step. Apply now or get in touch for a confidential conversation.
Lead Design Engineer in Glasgow employer: SimWest Engineering Recruitment
Join a dynamic and growing engineering business in Blackburn as a Lead Design Engineer, where you will have the unique opportunity to shape design project delivery and mentor a talented team. With a competitive salary, 25 days of holiday plus bank holidays, and an early finish at 1pm every Friday, this role offers a perfect blend of hands-on technical work and leadership responsibilities in a supportive and innovative work culture. As the company continues to expand, you will benefit from real progression potential and the chance to make a significant impact on engineering standards and processes.
Contact Details:
SimWest Engineering Recruitment Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Design Engineer in Glasgow
✨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 SimWest Engineering Recruitment.
✨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 SimWest Engineering Recruitment love to hear about practical applications of your skills.
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
Check out the careers page of SimWest Engineering Recruitment 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 Lead Design Engineer in Glasgow
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 SimWest Engineering Recruitment and the Lead 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 SimWest Engineering Recruitment
✨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 SimWest Engineering Recruitment.
✨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 SimWest Engineering Recruitment.
✨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 SimWest Engineering Recruitment, making you a more appealing candidate.
