Nextbase is seeking an accomplished Lead Mechanical Design Engineer to join our growing Hardware team in Caerphilly. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced mechanical design professional with a strong background in consumer products to play a leading role in the development of innovative, market-leading dash cam technology.
Working within the Research and Development team, you will take technical ownership of assigned new product development projects, collaborating closely with internal teams, external partners and contract manufacturers. You will lead mechanical and industrial design activity from concept through to manufacture, ensuring robust design intent, engineering quality and product integrity throughout the full development lifecycle.
The successful candidate will bring strong 3D CAD capability, ideally using SolidWorks or a comparable platform, together with the confidence to influence design decisions, review technical outputs and contribute to an innovation pipeline that challenges expectations and creates new demand in the connected car technology market.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the mechanical design intent and technical integrity of products throughout the full design lifecycle, from concept development through to mass production.
- Drive mechanical and industrial design activities across current and future product programmes.
- Produce high-quality 3D CAD models and engineering drawings using SolidWorks or equivalent CAD tools, ensuring designs are suitable for manufacture.
- Work closely with contract manufacturing partners to review, refine and optimise designs where required.
- Define appropriate assembly methods and sequencing as part of the product design process.
- Collaborate with hardware engineering and project teams to ensure projects are delivered on time, to specification and to a high standard.
- Support project engineers with technical drawings and inputs for thermal simulation activities.
- Mentor and support junior engineers, helping to develop capability and engineering best practice within the team.
- Travel quarterly to contract manufacturer sites, predominantly in Mainland China, to support design reviews, development activity and production readiness.
Skills and Experiance
Required
- BEng, MEng or equivalent qualification in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
- Extensive experience in a similar mechanical design role, ideally gained within consumer electronics, consumer products or a closely related sector
- Proven experience taking product designs from initial concept through to mass production
- Strong 3D CAD capability and a sound understanding of engineering drawing standards and design-for-manufacture principles
- Confident communicator with the ability to explain technical concepts clearly to engineering colleagues and senior stakeholders.
- Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment, working to tight deadlines and adapting to evolving requirements.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a collaborative approach to problem-solving and teamwork.
- A portfolio or examples of previous design work demonstrating technical capability and design thinking.
Desribale
- Experience mentoring or supporting junior engineers.
- Experience using Product Data Management systems such as SolidWorks PDM, CATIA ENOVIA or similar platforms.
- Working knowledge of FEA and/or CFD tools.
- Knowledge of plastic injection moulding processes and design considerations.
- Experience or practical knowledge of 3D printing and rapid prototyping techniques.
Salary and Benefits
- Salary Sacrifice Schemes
- Family Private Medical Insurance (Medical History Disregarded) and Medicash Health Cash Plan
- Employee Assistance Program
- Life Assurance
- Company Pension
- Charity Days
- 25 Days Annual Leave, Plus Bank Holidays
- Birthday Leave
Pay: £40,000.00-£50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee discount
- Enhanced paternity leave
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Paid volunteer time
- Private medical insurance
- Referral programme
Experience:
- Electrical engineering: 4 years (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Caerphilly (Caerphilly)
