Design Engineer

Job Title: Design Engineer
Location: Lancashire
Employment Type: Permanent - Full-Time
Working Pattern: 4-Day Week (Monday-Thursday), 37 hours/week
Salary: £40,000 - £45,000
Department: Engineering & Design

Manpower Engineering is partnering with a highly respected engineering manufacturer that has been operating for over 30 years. The company specialises in the design and manufacture of high-performance hydraulic tools, lifting and testing systems, and bespoke mechanical equipment. Their products are used in safety-critical environments across subsea, oil and gas, military, aviation, and nuclear sectors.

Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced and technically focused Design Engineer to join a collaborative engineering team. This role will involve designing new products and modifying existing systems, managing engineering projects from concept through to validation. This is a fully on-site role based at a modern facility.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop new mechanical products and variants, primarily machined components.
• Take ownership of engineering projects from initial concept through to completion.
• Conduct detailed engineering calculations and FEA to validate design concepts.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and testing teams during prototype build and validation stages.
• Mentor and support junior engineers, including graduate and apprentice team members.
• Liaise with customers when required for technical discussions or problem-solving.
• Attend up to two trade shows per year, with occasional overnight stays.

Required Skills & Experience

• Minimum 5 years' experience in mechanical design engineering.
• Proven ability to manage end-to-end design projects.
• Confident mentoring or guiding less experienced engineers.
• Strong understanding of machined components (hydraulic systems experience advantageous).
• Proficient in Autodesk Inventor (SolidWorks acceptable).
• Experience with FEA tools and engineering calculations.
• Competent using MS Office; familiarity with ERP systems (Epicor desirable).

Qualifications

• HND, Degree, or Apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Must have formal qualifications and demonstrable relevant industry experience.

Benefits

• Competitive salary (£40,000 - £45,000)
• 4-day working week (Mon-Thurs)
• 33 days holiday (adjusted for 4-day week)
• 4.25% employer pension contribution
• Free on-site parking, 5 EV chargers, tea/coffee
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Modern, refurbished working environment