At a Glance
- Tasks: Design innovative mechanical systems and tooling for major defence projects.
- Company: Join a leading engineering firm focused on defence and nuclear sectors.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, hybrid working, and generous leave entitlements.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for professional growth and development.
- Why this job: Work on impactful projects that enhance national security and safety.
- Qualifications: Degree in Mechanical Engineering and experience in regulated industries required.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
Location: Derby (Hybrid Working Available)
Job Type: Permanent | Full Time
Sector: Nuclear | Defence | Mechanical Engineering
The Opportunity
We are seeking an experienced Senior Mechanical Engineer with a background in tooling or mechanical design to support the development of specialist equipment and systems for major defence programmes. Working across the full engineering lifecycle, you will be responsible for developing innovative mechanical design solutions, supporting concept development through to detailed design, and ensuring engineering outputs meet the highest standards of quality, safety and performance. This role offers the opportunity to work on technically challenging projects within a collaborative, multidisciplinary engineering environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Mechanical Design
- Design mechanical systems, tooling and equipment to meet customer and project requirements.
- Produce concept designs, detailed engineering designs and manufacturing documentation.
- Develop practical engineering solutions to complex technical challenges.
- Modify and optimise existing designs to improve functionality, performance and manufacturability.
- Produce engineering calculations, reports and supporting technical documentation.
- Project Delivery
- Deliver engineering activities across the full project lifecycle, from requirements capture through concept, detailed design, manufacture and implementation.
- Support project planning by defining budgets, schedules and work programmes.
- Monitor project progress, ensuring delivery to agreed quality, cost and programme objectives.
- Identify and manage technical risks and opportunities throughout project execution.
- Engineering Assurance
- Evaluate mechanical designs for safety, reliability, performance and compliance.
- Ensure designs comply with relevant engineering standards, legislation and customer specifications.
- Participate in technical reviews, design verification activities and engineering assurance processes.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives and promote engineering best practice.
- Collaboration & Leadership
- Work closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams, project managers and customers.
- Provide technical guidance and support to junior engineers where appropriate.
- Build strong working relationships across project teams and client organisations.
- Contribute to knowledge sharing and continuous professional development within the engineering team.
Essential Requirements
- Proven experience in a Mechanical Design or Tooling Engineering role within a highly regulated industry.
- Experience designing one or more of the following:
- Tooling
- Valves
- Pressure vessels
- Structural components
- Lifting equipment
- Mechanical handling systems
- Good understanding of relevant engineering design codes and safety legislation.
- Experience managing engineering work packages across the full design lifecycle.
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
Technical Skills
- Experience with the following would be advantageous:
- 3D CAD software (Siemens NX or similar)
- Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems such as Teamcenter
- Engineering analysis software including: MathCAD, ANSYS, ABAQUS
- Design for manufacture and assembly (DFMA)
- Engineering calculations and technical reporting
- Configuration management and engineering change control
Qualifications
- Degree (BEng or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
- Chartered Engineer (CEng) status, or working towards professional registration, is desirable.
Security Requirements
Due to the nature of the work, successful applicants must be eligible to obtain and maintain UK Security Check (SC) clearance. Applicants will also need to satisfy UK residency requirements to support security clearance applications.
What's on Offer
- Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
- Hybrid and flexible working arrangements.
- Opportunity to work on nationally significant defence and submarine programmes.
- Structured career development and technical progression.
- Exposure to complex, safety‑critical engineering projects.
- Support towards professional registration and continued learning.
- Payment of professional membership fees.
- Generous annual leave entitlement.
- Competitive pension scheme.
- Employee wellbeing programme.
- Retail discounts and employee benefits platform.
- Collaborative working environment with industry‑leading engineering specialists.
Equal Opportunity
Westlakes Recruit is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is accessible and inclusive and will provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Mechanical Design Engineer (Tooling) - Defence
✨Get Your Hands Dirty at Engineering Events
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✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
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We think you need these skills to ace Senior Mechanical Design Engineer (Tooling) - Defence
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 westlakesrecruit and the Senior Mechanical Design Engineer (Tooling) - Defence 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 westlakesrecruit
✨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 westlakesrecruit.
✨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 westlakesrecruit.
✨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 westlakesrecruit, making you a more appealing candidate.
