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- Tasks: Lead mechanical design projects from concept to installation, solving complex engineering challenges.
- Company: Respected UK engineering manufacturer with over 50 years of success.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 25 days holiday, early finish Fridays, and office-based work.
- Other info: Opportunity for genuine impact in a stable and innovative environment.
- Why this job: Take ownership of design, influence standards, and see your work come to life.
- Qualifications: Strong mechanical design experience and leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
This is a senior, high-impact position for a mechanical design engineer who wants real technical ownership. You will be the person others look to when things get difficult – the one who makes the call, sets the direction, and ensures designs don’t just look right on a drawing, they work in the real world.
Our client is a well-established UK engineering business with over 50 years of success designing and building bespoke bulk material handling systems for a global customer base. As part of their continued growth, they are looking to appoint a Principal Design Engineer to play a leading role in shaping how design is delivered across the business.
You will take ownership of complex, bespoke design projects from concept through to manufacture, build, and delivery, acting as the senior technical authority across the design lifecycle. It’s a true player-coach position: hands-on when it matters, but also leading, guiding, and raising standards across the team.
What You’ll Be Doing:
- Leading the mechanical design of bespoke machinery from concept through to build and installation
- Taking ownership of complex engineering challenges and making sound technical decisions
- Producing and reviewing GA drawings, detailed manufacturing drawings, and calculations
- Ensuring designs are buildable, cost-effective, and aligned with project requirements
- Acting as the go-to technical authority for design standards, materials, and engineering approach
- Supporting customer discussions and translating requirements into practical engineering solutions
- Reviewing, guiding, and signing off the work of other engineers
- Supporting standardisation and modularisation to improve efficiency and reduce rework
- Supporting costing and estimating activities on more technically involved projects
- Ensuring designs comply with relevant standards and regulations including CE / UKCA and machinery safety requirements
You will also play a key role in modernising the design function, including strengthening 3D capability and improving how design integrates with manufacturing and project delivery.
What They’re Looking For:
- Strong experience in mechanical design within machinery, capital equipment, bulk handling, or bespoke systems
- A proven track record delivering complex projects from concept through to manufacture
- Confidence to make technical decisions and take ownership of outcomes
- Strong capability in detailed design, manufacturing drawings, and engineering calculations
- Experience mentoring, supporting, or leading other engineers
- The ability to balance engineering excellence with cost, time, and commercial realities
- Experience using CAD for mechanical design, with exposure to both 2D (AutoCAD) and 3D environments (e.g. Autodesk Inventor/SolidWorks)
- Knowledge of machinery safety, compliance, and quality-driven design
Qualifications:
- HND or Degree in Mechanical Engineering (or similar)
- Chartered status desirable, not essential
- Familiarity with ISO9001 standards would be advantageous
Why This Role Stands Out:
This is an opportunity to join a stable and respected UK manufacturer where engineering still matters. You will have the opportunity to:
- Take genuine ownership of the design function
- Influence standards, systems, and best practice
- Work on varied, bespoke projects – not repetitive design
- Shape the future direction of engineering within the business
- See your designs move from concept through to build and installation
Package:
- £60,000 - £75,000 DOE
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays
- Office-based role in Greater Manchester
- Early finish Fridays
If you are a senior mechanical design engineer looking for a role where you can combine hands-on engineering with leadership, technical authority, and genuine influence, this could be the opportunity to step into. Apply today.
Principal Design Engineer employer: SimWest Engineering Recruitment
Contact Detail:
SimWest Engineering Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Design Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the engineering field, especially those who might know about opportunities at companies you're interested in. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to a referral, which is often the golden ticket to landing that interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the technical interview by brushing up on your design principles and project experiences. Be ready to discuss specific challenges you've faced and how you tackled them. We want to see your problem-solving skills shine!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills during interviews. Talk about times when you guided a team or mentored others. This role is all about being a technical authority, so let them know you can take charge and inspire confidence in your colleagues.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in the role and the company. Let’s get you that Principal Design Engineer position!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Design Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Technical Authority: When writing your application, make sure to highlight your experience in making technical decisions and leading projects. We want to see how you've taken ownership of complex engineering challenges and the impact it had on your previous roles.
Be Hands-On: Don’t just list your skills; show us how you’ve applied them in real-world scenarios. Share specific examples of projects where you were hands-on, from concept through to delivery. This will help us understand your practical approach to design.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure your application speaks directly to the role of Principal Design Engineer. Use the job description as a guide to align your experience with what we’re looking for. This shows us you’re genuinely interested and have done your homework!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates regarding your application status.
How to prepare for a job interview at SimWest Engineering Recruitment
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your mechanical design knowledge, especially around bespoke machinery and bulk handling systems. Be ready to discuss specific projects you've worked on, focusing on the challenges you faced and how you overcame them.
✨Show Your Leadership Skills
This role is all about technical authority and leadership. Prepare examples of how you've mentored or guided other engineers in the past. Highlight situations where your decisions made a significant impact on project outcomes.
✨Be Hands-On
Since this position requires a player-coach approach, be prepared to talk about your hands-on experience with CAD tools like AutoCAD and SolidWorks. Discuss how you've integrated design with manufacturing processes in previous roles.
✨Understand Compliance and Standards
Familiarise yourself with relevant standards and regulations, such as CE/UKCA compliance and ISO9001. Be ready to explain how you've ensured that your designs meet these requirements in past projects.