Design and Production Engineer

Design and Production Engineer

Upto £38, 0000 DOE

Full time 37.5 hours per week

Daventry

Permanent role

My client is one of the UK’s leading specialists in precision automotive They turn ideas into reality — designing, developing, and manufacturing solutions for worldclass OEMs

As an independent company, they move fast, think flexibly, and deliver with uncompromising quality.

Role Purpose:

As a Design and Production Engineer, you’ll turn ideas into precision-engineered reality — developing innovative exhaust and powertrain systems for world-class automotive brands and leading their journey from prototype to production, transforming into efficient, high-quality manufacturing processes that meet demanding quality, cost, and delivery targets.

Working closely with serial production, quality, and suppliers, you’ll ensure every design not only looks exceptional but is built efficiently and repeatably. The role demands creativity, technical rigour, and a passion for engineering. You will support and contribute to internal and customer meetings. Your work will define the precision, performance, and craftsmanship that set every product of theirs apart.

Key Responsibilities

1) Concept & Feasibility

• Generate and develop CAD concepts using CATIA V5 (surface, solid, and 2D) based on customer data and packaging constraints. (D)

• Provide early design and manufacturing input to assess feasibility, cost, and capability, coordinating with internal teams and suppliers. (D/P)

• Prepare and maintain the Manufacturing Feasibility Report (MFR) throughout all project phases. (P)

• Lead and Support Design FMEA and Manufacturing Feasibility Reviews to identify and mitigate potential risks early. (D/P)

• Define datum structures, interfaces, layouts, and special characteristics in line with customer, internal, and APQP standards. (D/P)

• Present design proposals and technical solutions at internal gateway and design review meetings. (D)

2) Prototype Development & Validation

• Create detailed CAD models and drawings for prototype manufacture and customer approval. (D)

• Design and commission tools, jigs, and fixtures for prototype and production use. (D/P)

• Plan and manage prototype builds, coordinating internal teams, suppliers, tooling, and manufacturing

activities. (P)

• Review first-off parts with the Quality Team, analyse measurement data, and implement design or process adjustments as required. (D/P)

• Lead and Support DFMEA and PFMEA development to identify and control product and process risks. (D/P)

• Capture and document lessons learned from prototype builds to support design freeze and production readiness. (D/P)

3) Pre-Production & Industrialisation

• Finalise designs for production release, ensuring correct application of GD&T, robust datum structures, and tolerance stack-ups. (D/P)

• Develop and validate process flows, PFMEA, Control Plans, and Standard Operating Procedures for preproduction builds, ensuring all SC/CC characteristics are included. (P)

• Conduct capacity studies, layout reviews, and Run-at-Rate trials to confirm process stability and cycle-time targets. (P)

• Oversee tooling readiness and sign-off, working with both in-house and external suppliers. (D/P)

• Maintain CAD data accuracy and configuration control throughout development. (D)

• Review process and measurement feedback from pilot builds to refine product and tooling design. (D/P)

• Ensure routings, and process changes are correctly defined in Factory Master or ERP systems. (P)

4) Production Launch & Continuous Improvement

• Support production ramp-up by resolving design or process issues promptly and effectively. (P)

• Lead process capability (under guidance) and efficiency improvements to achieve cost, quality, and delivery targets. (P)

• Lead and Participate in Run-at-Rate reviews, lessons-learned sessions, and cross-functional improvement workshops. (P)

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of design standards, CAD practices, and manufacturing methods.

(D/P)

• Document and share lessons learned for future New Product Introduction (NPI) projects. (D/P).