Lead Mechanical Design Engineer

Lead Mechanical Design

Engineering | Technical Leadership | Project Delivery

Location: North West England
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

The Role at a Glance

An established engineering organisation is seeking an experienced Lead Mechanical Design professional to oversee technical design activities, coordinate engineering resources and support the delivery of bespoke equipment projects.

This position offers a combination of hands-on mechanical design and team leadership. You will guide design engineers, manage competing workloads, improve engineering processes and ensure projects progress from initial concept through to manufacture.

The successful candidate will bring strong mechanical design expertise, sound engineering judgement and the ability to coordinate technical activities within a multidisciplinary environment.

What You'll Be Responsible For

Leading Engineering Design

• Provide day-to-day technical guidance to mechanical design engineers, resolving complex design challenges and supporting key engineering decisions.
• Ensure equipment designs meet customer specifications, safety requirements and manufacturing standards.
• Oversee design reviews, engineering risk assessments and technical problem-solving.
• Establish and maintain consistent engineering standards, design methodologies and reusable solutions.
• Identify opportunities to improve design efficiency, quality and engineering processes.

Managing Workloads & Developing the Team

• Plan, prioritise and distribute design activities in line with project deadlines and business requirements.
• Monitor team capacity and allocate resources across multiple engineering projects.
• Review workloads, progress and technical issues through regular team discussions.
• Encourage knowledge sharing, collaboration and the development of technical expertise.
• Work closely with other departments to ensure engineering activities remain aligned with wider business objectives.

Delivering Projects from Design to Manufacture

• Take responsibility for selected projects, producing mechanical designs and manufacturing documentation.
• Use 2D and 3D CAD systems to develop equipment designs and detailed engineering drawings.
• Coordinate with project management, controls engineering, manufacturing, purchasing and other relevant functions.
• Track engineering progress, identify potential delays and address technical risks.
• Communicate project status, resource requirements and engineering priorities to relevant stakeholders.

What We're Looking For

Your Technical Background

• Proven experience in mechanical design within bespoke machinery, process equipment, capital equipment or engineered-to-order manufacturing.
• Strong practical knowledge of mechanical design principles and the production of manufacturing drawings.
• Experience using 3D CAD packages.
• An understanding of engineering project delivery within a multidisciplinary environment.
• The ability to guide technical decisions, coordinate engineering activities and manage competing priorities.
• Strong communication, organisation and analytical problem-solving skills.

Desirable Experience

• Pharmaceutical machinery, containment technology, powder handling or specialist process equipment.
• Engineering projects operating within GMP-regulated environments.
• Machinery safety legislation, CE/UKCA marking and relevant compliance standards.
• ATEX and hazardous area design.
• Leading engineering projects, mentoring designers or coordinating technical teams.
• Integration of mechanical equipment with automation and control systems.
• Developing standardised designs, engineering templates and improved design processes.

The Person We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who combines technical credibility with a practical and collaborative approach.

You'll be comfortable making engineering decisions, supporting colleagues and working with stakeholders across different departments. You'll also be organised enough to balance several projects at once while maintaining a strong focus on quality, safety and delivery.

Above all, you'll be motivated by improving engineering standards, developing people and delivering well-designed, fit-for-purpose equipment.

The Opportunity

This role would suit an experienced Mechanical Design Engineer ready to step into a leadership position, or an established technical lead looking for a hands-on role with broader responsibility.

It's an opportunity to shape design processes, influence technical standards and help drive the successful delivery of specialist engineering projects from concept to completion.

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