Graduate Design Engineer

Graduate Design Engineer

Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Permanent, Full-Time
£28,000 - £30,000 per annum

The Opportunity:

An excellent opportunity has arisen for a Graduate Design Engineer to join an established engineering and manufacturing organisation specialising in the design and production of technically engineered products.

This position offers a structured introduction to professional engineering and would suit a recent Mechanical Engineering graduate looking to develop a career within product design, research and development, and manufacturing.

Working alongside experienced engineers, the successful candidate will gain practical exposure to the complete engineering lifecycle, from initial design concepts and calculations through to manufacturing, assembly, testing and product validation.

The Role:

As Graduate Design Engineer, you will support the design and development of new and existing engineered products while building your knowledge of engineering standards, manufacturing processes and technical documentation.

You will undertake a combination of office-based design work, engineering calculations and practical production activities, providing a strong foundation for long-term career development within mechanical engineering.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the design and development of new and existing engineered products.
• Work alongside experienced engineers on live design and manufacturing projects.
• Produce 2D drawings and 3D CAD models for components, assemblies and finished products.
• Carry out engineering calculations relating to stress, pressure, flow and mechanical performance.
• Apply relevant engineering standards, design rules and mechanical principles.
• Prepare technical calculations, reports and supporting design documentation.
• Assist with the creation and maintenance of bills of materials within an MRP system.
• Support research and development projects involving new products, materials and engineering solutions.
• Participate in the assembly, testing and evaluation of prototypes and production products.
• Assist with the investigation and resolution of design, manufacturing or performance issues.
• Work closely with manufacturing, production, quality and testing personnel.
• Gain practical shop-floor experience to improve your understanding of manufacturing methods and design for manufacture.
• Maintain accurate engineering records and ensure drawings and documentation are kept up to date.
• Contribute ideas for product improvement, innovation and process development.

Skills and Experience:

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• A degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• A sound understanding of mechanics, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics and engineering materials.
• Knowledge of fundamental engineering calculations, including stress, pressure and flow.
• An interest in mechanical design, product development and manufacturing.
• Some experience using 2D or 3D CAD software gained through university, placements or personal projects.
• Strong numerical, analytical and technical problem-solving skills.
• A methodical approach with excellent attention to detail.
• The ability to interpret technical drawings, specifications and engineering information.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• A proactive attitude, willingness to learn and enthusiasm for developing a long-term engineering career.

Desirable Experience:

Previous industry experience is not essential, although a placement year, internship, apprenticeship background or practical project experience within engineering or manufacturing would be advantageous.

Knowledge of pressure equipment, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Finite Element Analysis or Computational Fluid Dynamics would also be beneficial but is not essential, as training and development will be provided.

Career Development:

The successful candidate will receive structured technical guidance and practical experience across design, manufacturing, assembly and testing.

This is an excellent opportunity to develop the technical knowledge, commercial awareness and practical engineering capability required to progress into a fully competent Design Engineer position.

Package:

A starting salary of £28,000 to £30,000 per annum will be offered, together with a competitive benefits package, ongoing training, mentoring and opportunities for professional development.