At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and develop innovative electronic products while collaborating with a dynamic engineering team.
- Company: Join Unipart Rail & Tech, a leader in the rail industry with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, 25 days holiday, health initiatives, and hybrid working options.
- Other info: Opportunities for professional development and mentorship from experienced engineers.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in railway signalling engineering and grow your career in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Degree in Electronics Engineering and expertise in analogue/digital design and embedded software.
Contract type: Full time
Hours: 37 hours per week
Salary: Up to £50,000
Location: Southport
Reporting to the Head of Product Design and Development, you will be a key member of the Design Engineering team, responsible for the analysis, design, development, and continual improvement of innovative electronic products for manufacture, leveraging new and emerging technologies to support the company’s growth objectives.
Working under the guidance of Principal and Senior Engineers, the role requires the delivery of high-quality engineering outputs, including schematics, PCB designs, simulations, calculations, technical specifications, drawings, bills of materials and user manuals to support engineering change and approval processes.
You will actively support the full product lifecycle assessment across the existing product portfolio, managing design modifications, component obsolescence, cost, and reliability improvements.
In parallel, you will contribute to project management activities by supporting planning, scheduling and risk management to ensure projects are delivered to agreed time, cost, and quality targets, while collaborating closely with cross-functional teams, including mechanical, software, manufacturing, and product management, to ensure alignment with product roadmaps and priorities.
Strong engagement with manufacturing is required to drive Design for Manufacture and Test (DFM/DfT), improve build and test processes, enhance product quality, and provide hands-on technical support to resolve production issues.
The role also involves coordinating with procurement, supply chain, and vendors to ensure timely sourcing of components and quality for prototyping and production.
The position requires a mid-senior level of expertise in analogue and digital circuit design, PCB layout and review, power electronics, embedded systems, component selection and compliance (e.g. EMC, safety, and relevant regulatory standards), alongside proficiency with CAD and simulation tools, design verification and validation, failure analysis, and lifecycle documentation, complemented by strong communication, problem-solving, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement skills.
This position offers numerous opportunities for professional development, including training programs and workshops to enhance your skills and knowledge in electronics engineering and railway signalling. You will benefit from mentorship by experienced engineers who will guide you through your professional growth and development.
The role encourages both autonomy and initiative, allowing you to take ownership of your work and responsibilities. At the same time, you will be an integral part of a collaborative team, contributing to a supportive and dynamic work environment. Demonstrating your skills and dedication can lead to career advancement within the company.
Essential Criteria:
- Degree in Electronics Engineering
- Expertise in both analogue and digital electronic design as well as possessing an excellent knowledge of embedded software (PIC and C).
- Working knowledge of Engineering design systems (Autocad / Cadstar / eCadstar) and design rules
- Experience in product design lifecycle – from concept to introduction into manufacturing (ideally in safety critical industry)
- Experience of design office revision control and file management
- Experience in component obsolescence management
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
- Able to liaise with customers to understand technical requirements
- Strong customer focus
- Passion for producing innovative design solutions
- Excellent team player
- IT literate
Desirable Criteria:
- Experience / knowledge of rail industry standards, SMD LED technology / optical design
- Product safety knowledge EN 50128, EN 50129
- Project Management Experience highly desirable
Why Join Us?
- Innovative Environment: Be part of a team that values creativity and forward-thinking
- Career Growth: Opportunities to advance and become a leader in railway signalling engineering
- Supportive Culture: Work in a collaborative and supportive environment
Benefits
- Competitive salary
- Pension and death in service provisions for employees in pension scheme
- 25 Days Hols (plus Bank Holidays)
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
- Health and Wellbeing Initiatives
- Employee offers and discounts from various retailers
- Cycle to work scheme, recognition events and rewards
- Free car parking
- Blended/hybrid working available
Unipart – Who are we?
Unipart Rail & Tech is part of the Unipart Group, one of Europe's leading independent logistics’ companies that employs more than 8,000 employees worldwide and has an annual turnover of more than £1 billion. We have a long heritage in the rail industry based on decades of experience, we have continuous improvement plans to embrace innovation in both products and business techniques to ensure that we remain the first and best choice for our customers. As a valued employee of Unipart, you can look forward to a varied and rewarding career with a company that holds the Investors in People accreditation and also world class status in employee engagement.
Design & Development Engineer in Southport employer: Unipart
Unipart Rail & Tech offers an innovative and collaborative work environment in Southport, where creativity is valued and employees are encouraged to take ownership of their projects. With a strong focus on career growth, you will benefit from mentorship by experienced engineers and numerous professional development opportunities, all while enjoying competitive benefits such as a generous holiday allowance, health initiatives, and flexible working arrangements.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Design & Development Engineer in Southport
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about asking for introductions. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Understand their design processes and challenges. We want you to show them that you’re not just another candidate, but someone who genuinely cares about their mission and can contribute to their innovative environment.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your technical skills and be ready to discuss your past projects. We recommend having a portfolio or examples of your work handy. This will help you demonstrate your expertise in analogue and digital design, and show how you can add value to their team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A simple thank-you email can go a long way. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you fresh in their minds. Plus, we love candidates who take initiative!
We think you need these skills to ace Design & Development Engineer in Southport
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Design & Development Engineer role. Highlight your experience in analogue and digital circuit design, as well as any relevant projects that showcase your skills in product design lifecycle.
Showcase Your Technical Skills:Don’t hold back on detailing your expertise with CAD and simulation tools. Mention specific software you’ve used, like Autocad or Cadstar, and how you've applied them in past projects to solve engineering challenges.
Demonstrate Team Spirit:We love a good team player! Share examples of how you’ve collaborated with cross-functional teams in previous roles. This could be anything from working with manufacturing to ensure quality, to liaising with customers to understand their technical needs.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows your enthusiasm for joining our innovative team at Unipart Rail & Tech!
How to prepare for a job interview at Unipart
✨Know Your Electronics Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of both analogue and digital electronic design. Be prepared to discuss your experience with embedded software, PCB layout, and any relevant engineering design systems like AutoCAD or Cadstar. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the theory but can apply it practically.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
During the interview, be ready to share specific examples of how you've tackled complex engineering challenges in the past. Highlight your analytical skills and how you've contributed to design modifications or improvements in product quality. This will demonstrate your ability to think critically and innovate.
✨Understand the Product Lifecycle
Familiarise yourself with the full product lifecycle from concept to manufacturing. Be prepared to discuss your experience in managing design changes and component obsolescence. This knowledge will be crucial as the role involves supporting project management activities and ensuring alignment with product roadmaps.
✨Engage with Cross-Functional Teams
Since collaboration is key in this role, think about how you've worked with different teams in the past, such as mechanical, software, and manufacturing. Be ready to discuss how you’ve facilitated communication and ensured everyone is on the same page, which is vital for successful project delivery.
