We are looking for an experienced and practical 3D CAD Design Engineer to join our engineering team.
This is a hands-on engineering role working across a variety of automotive and vehicle engineering projects, from initial concept and reverse engineering through to detailed design, manufacture, prototyping and installation.
The successful candidate will have strong SolidWorks experience and be comfortable working with real-world vehicle components, assemblies and packaging constraints.
We are particularly interested in candidates with experience in the automotive, commercial vehicle, specialist vehicle or transport engineering industries who are equally comfortable working at a CAD workstation and getting involved with vehicles and components in the workshop.
Key Responsibilities
- Create detailed 3D CAD models and assemblies using SolidWorks
- Develop new components, brackets, structures, systems and vehicle installations from concept through to manufacture
- Produce accurate 2D manufacturing and engineering drawings
- Reverse engineer existing components and vehicle installations
- Use 3D scanning equipment to capture vehicle, component and installation geometry
- Process scan data and convert point clouds/mesh data into usable CAD geometry
- Design parts specifically for 3D printing and rapid prototyping
- Produce and test prototype components using in-house 3D printing equipment
- Design components for a range of manufacturing processes including:
- Sheet metal
- Fabrication and welding
- CNC machining
- Laser cutting
- 3D printing
- Composite and fabricated assemblies
- Carry out vehicle packaging studies and check clearances, interfaces and component fitment
- Develop CAD designs from sketches, measurements, existing components and engineering concepts
- Work closely with workshop technicians, fabricators, suppliers and the wider engineering team
- Attend vehicles in the workshop to measure, inspect, develop and validate designs
- Support prototype builds, first-off installations and design improvements
- Maintain accurate drawings, revisions and engineering documentation
- Help develop design standards and improve engineering processes
Essential Skills & Experience
- Minimum 3 years' professional 3D CAD/design engineering experience
- Strong working knowledge of SolidWorks
- Experience creating complex parts and assemblies
- Strong understanding of engineering drawings, tolerances and manufacturing processes
- Practical understanding of how components are manufactured and assembled
- Experience taking a design from initial concept through to a manufactured component
- Good dimensional and spatial awareness
- Ability to solve engineering and packaging problems independently
- Strong attention to detail
- Ability to communicate effectively with both engineers and workshop personnel
Automotive Experience
Previous experience within one or more of the following would be highly advantageous:
- Automotive engineering
- Commercial vehicles
- HGVs
- Specialist vehicle conversions
- Electric vehicles
- Vehicle body building
- Motorsport
- Agricultural or off-highway vehicles
Candidates should have a good understanding of designing components that need to work reliably in a real vehicle environment rather than purely theoretical CAD design.
3D Scanning & Reverse Engineering
Experience with 3D scanning and reverse engineering is highly desirable.
This may include:
- Vehicle and component scanning
- Point cloud or mesh processing
- Scan-to-CAD workflows
- Reverse engineering existing components
- Designing new components around scanned vehicle geometry
Experience with specific scanning software or hardware is advantageous, although training can be provided for the right candidate.
3D Printing
We regularly use 3D printing as part of our engineering and development process, so experience in this area would be beneficial.
Ideally, you will understand:
- Designing components for additive manufacture
- FDM/FDM-style printing
- Material selection
- Print orientation and tolerances
- Prototype development
- Designing jigs, fixtures and production aids
- Taking a prototype from printed part through to final production design
Desirable Additional Skills
Experience in any of the following would be beneficial:
- SolidWorks Sheet Metal
- Weldments
- Surface modelling
- Large assemblies
- Configuration management
- GD&T
- FEA / simulation
- Electrical component packaging
- EV or alternative-fuel vehicle systems
- Vehicle homologation or type approval
- CNC machining
- Fabrication
- Laser cutting
- Composite component design
The Person
We are looking for someone who is practical, creative and engineering-minded.
You should enjoy solving unusual engineering problems and be comfortable developing something that may not already exist.
This role would suit someone who likes seeing their designs move from:
Idea → CAD → Prototype → Manufacture → Vehicle
rather than spending all of their time producing drawings behind a desk.
You will need to be comfortable working in a fast-moving engineering environment where projects can range from small individual components to complete vehicle systems and installations.
Qualifications
A qualification in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Product Design, Design Engineering or a related discipline would be advantageous.
However, relevant practical industry experience and a strong portfolio of engineering design work will be considered equally important.
Experience
Required:
- 3D CAD / Design Engineering: 3 years minimum
- SolidWorks: Strong professional experience
Preferred:
- Automotive or vehicle engineering experience
- 3D scanning / reverse engineering
- 3D printing / additive manufacturing
What We Offer
- Varied and interesting automotive engineering projects
- Opportunity to work on both prototype and production vehicle programmes
- Hands-on involvement throughout the complete engineering process
- Access to 3D scanning, CAD and additive manufacturing technology
- Opportunity to see your designs manufactured, fitted and used on real vehicles
- Friendly, practical engineering environment
- Opportunities to develop within a growing engineering business
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: Negotiable £35k+
Location: Deeside, Flintshire
Working Hours:
Monday – Thursday 08:30 – 17:00 Friday 08:30 – 13:00
Applicants are encouraged to provide examples or a portfolio of previous CAD, automotive, reverse-engineering or product-development work where available.
Pay: From £35,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
