Mechanical Design Engineer (Autodesk Inventor / Vault Bias)
Bespoke Machinery | Automation | Food & Beverage Equipment
- Location: Bolton on site
- Job Type: Full-Time
- Salary: Starting Salary £46,000+ (Negotiable Depending on Experience)
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Design Machines That Make a Difference
At Micro Can Ltd, we design and build innovative bespoke machinery solutions for the beverage packaging and automation industry.
We pride ourselves on precision engineering, creativity, collaboration and delivering machinery that genuinely solves customer challenges. Due to continued growth, we are looking for an experienced and motivated Mechanical Design Engineer with strong Autodesk Inventor and Vault capability to join our team in Bolton.
This is not a purely desk-based design role. We are looking for someone who is just as comfortable on the workshop floor and involved with machine builds as they are designing on-screen.
If you enjoy creating real-world machinery, solving engineering challenges and seeing your ideas move from concept through to manufacture and final build, this role offers genuine ownership, variety and long-term opportunity.
We are particularly interested in someone who wants to grow with the business and help shape the future of the mechanical design function as the company continues to expand.
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Why This Role Is Fully Office & Workshop Based
This is a highly collaborative engineering environment where mechanical design, workshop engineers, fabrication teams, electrical engineers and machine builders work side-by-side on a daily basis.
We do not offer hybrid working because this role relies heavily on real-time collaboration, rapid design iteration and direct involvement with builds on the shop floor.
Working on-site enables:
- Immediate feedback between design and fabrication teams
- Faster problem solving and engineering decision making
- Hands-on involvement with machine builds and testing
- Stronger understanding of manufacturability and real-world constraints
- A more integrated and efficient engineering process
This environment suits engineers who want to be fully embedded in the machine-building process, not isolated from it.
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The Role
You’ll play a key role in the design and development of bespoke machinery and automation systems from concept through to manufacture, testing and installation.
Working closely with production teams, electrical/control engineers and project managers, you’ll contribute throughout the full project lifecycle to deliver innovative, practical and manufacturable engineering solutions.
The ideal candidate will be confident, hands-on, and capable of working independently while contributing strongly within a close-knit engineering team.
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Key Responsibilities
- Lead and contribute to the mechanical design and development of bespoke machinery and automation equipment
- Design conveyors, fabricated machinery, handling systems and food/beverage packaging equipment
- Create detailed 3D models, assemblies, manufacturing drawings and engineering specifications using Autodesk Inventor (Vault experience preferred)
- Manage and control engineering data, revisions and BOMs using Autodesk Vault
- Produce accurate manufacturing drawings, BOMs and documentation for production and assembly
- Apply sound engineering principles to develop robust, cost-effective and manufacturable designs
- Work on sheet metal, stainless steel fabrication and automation-focused engineering projects
- Support R&D, prototyping, testing and new machine development
- Collaborate closely with workshop engineers, production, project management and service teams
- Troubleshoot and resolve manufacturing and design challenges
- Support machine build, testing, installation and commissioning activities
- Contribute ideas to improve machine performance, efficiency and build quality
- Work independently while contributing effectively as part of the wider engineering team
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What We’re Looking For
- Minimum 4 years’ experience in machinery manufacturing, automation or a related engineering sector
- Proven experience as a Mechanical Design Engineer
- Strong mechanical engineering background with excellent problem-solving ability
- Experience designing bespoke machinery, conveyors or automated handling equipment
- Strong understanding of sheet metal, fabrication and manufacturing processes
- Strong Autodesk Inventor experience (Vault experience preferred)
- Ability to produce complex 3D assemblies, detailed drawings and controlled engineering documentation
- Experience managing design data, revisions and BOMs
- Hands-on, practical engineering mindset
- Strong communication and teamwork skills
- Self-motivated, proactive and passionate about engineering
- Looking for long-term career progression within a growing business
- Ideally located within commuting distance of Bolton
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Desirable Experience
- Food, beverage or packaging machinery
- Prototype testing and product validation
- Stainless steel fabrication
- Small-to-medium sized engineering business environment
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Hours & Benefits
- Monday to Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm
(Optional early start available for earlier Friday finish)
- Starting salary from £46,000+ negotiable depending on experience
- Workplace pension scheme
- 30 days holiday including bank holidays and Christmas shutdown
- Stable and growing business with low staff turnover
- Supportive and collaborative team environment
- Genuine opportunity for professional growth and long-term development
- Freedom to innovate and shape future machinery projects
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Why Join Micro Can Ltd?
This is an opportunity to join a business where your ideas matter and your work directly contributes to machinery being built on the shop floor.
We’re looking for engineers who enjoy solving real engineering problems, getting involved in builds and taking pride in delivering high-quality machinery solutions — not just producing drawings.
If that sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.
Please apply with your CV and, where possible, examples of previous design work or projects.
Benefits:
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
Application question(s):
- Willingness to work on site in office and workshop full time ( no hybrid working)
- Autodesk and Inventor software previous experience.
- Previous experience designing/building conveyor systems
Education:
- Certificate of Higher Education (preferred)
Language:
- English is first language (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Location:
- Bolton, Greater Manchester (preferred)
Work Location: In person
