Mechanical Design Engineer – Machinery & Automation

£45,000 – £50,000 + Benefits Location: Bedfordshire (Site-Based Role)

Are you a hands-on Mechanical Design Engineer with strong SolidWorks or Inventor skills and experience designing automated machinery? Join a growing manufacturer where you’ll design, develop, and refine special-purpose equipment used across the packaging and processing sector.

The Role

You’ll work within a collaborative design team delivering end-to-end mechanical design for bespoke filling and packaging machinery. This is a practical, varied role perfect for someone with a systems mindset and a passion for building robust, efficient machines.

What You’ll Be Doing

Designing machinery, assemblies, and components using SolidWorks or Autodesk Inventor

Applying a systems engineering approach to integrate mechanical, electrical, pneumatic and automated elements

Producing accurate 3D models, 2D manufacturing drawings, BOMs and technical documentation

Supporting the production team to ensure designs are practical, efficient and easy to assemble

Carrying out FEA to validate and optimise designs

Applying GD&T for tolerance, fit and functional precision

Designing mechanisms involving rotating parts, shafts, bearings, gears and drive systems

Contributing to R&D, product improvements and new machine development

What You’ll Need

Strong 3D CAD skills – SolidWorks OR Inventor

Experience in machine building, automation, packaging, or special-purpose machinery

A good grounding in core mechanical engineering principles

Understanding of system-level design (mechanical + controls + pneumatics)

Experience working with rotating assemblies, bearings, linear motion or power transmission

Familiarity with FEA and GD&T

Confident producing manufacturing drawings & BOMs

A practical approach and ability to work closely with production teams

Why Join?

Salary £45,000 – £50,000

Long-established, growing manufacturer

Real ownership of your designs from concept to build

Friendly, supportive engineering culture

Progression opportunities as the business expands

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