Lead Mechanical Design Engineer

Lead Mechanical Design Engineer

Location:
Salary: Competitive

Overview:

• Are you an experienced Lead Design Engineer, ready to take ownership of engineering development and lead a team through the next stage of commercial growth? We are partnering with an innovative clean technology business that is commercialising a pioneering, environmentally sustainable process. With the technology moving from pilot operations towards commercial-scale production, the business is looking for a Lead Design Engineer to shape plant design, lead engineering activities and drive the delivery of next-generation industrial equipment.
• This is an opportunity to combine hands-on engineering expertise with a genuine leadership function, influencing technical strategy, developing engineering capability and turning innovative technology into reliable, commercially viable production plants.
• Working with international partners, engineering consultancies and specialist equipment suppliers, you will take ownership of mechanical and electrical design from concept through to manufacture, installation and commissioning.

The Role:

• As Lead Mechanical & Electrical Design Engineer, you will lead the mechanical and electrical engineering function, providing technical direction, coordinating engineering resources and ensuring the successful delivery of plant design and development projects.
• You will oversee design quality, guide and develop engineering personnel, manage technical interfaces and ensure equipment and systems are designed to meet demanding requirements for safety, performance, reliability, cost and scalability.
• This is a senior, hands-on leadership role suited to someone with a strong background in industrial machinery, process plant or complex manufacturing equipment who wants to influence both engineering decisions and the wider development of a growing clean technology business.

Key Responsibilities:

Engineering Leadership

• Lead, manage and develop engineering personnel, providing technical guidance, mentoring and direction.
• Set engineering priorities, coordinate workloads and allocate resources to meet project deadlines and business objectives.
• Establish design standards, engineering procedures and technical review processes to improve consistency and quality.
• Oversee engineering deliverables, providing technical challenge and ensuring designs are practical, compliant and commercially viable.
• Report engineering progress, technical risks and resource requirements to senior management.
• Coordinate internal teams, external engineering consultants, international partners and equipment suppliers.

Mechanical & Electrical Design

• Lead the design and development of commercial-scale plants, production lines and associated equipment.
• Oversee mechanical and electrical engineering from concept design and detailed engineering through to manufacture, installation and commissioning.
• Review and develop CAD models, manufacturing drawings, general arrangements, mechanical assemblies, P&IDs, PFDs, electrical schematics and single-line diagrams.
• Ensure mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and control systems are effectively integrated.
• Lead equipment specification, supplier engagement, design reviews and technical problem-solving.
• Work with equipment manufacturers and automation providers, including ABB, Siemens and Rockwell, on equipment integration and control system interfaces.

Project Delivery & Technology Scale-Up:

• Drive engineering delivery against agreed project milestones, budgets, quality requirements and technical specifications.
• Lead design verification, prototyping and testing to improve equipment performance, reliability and manufacturability.
• Oversee technical investigations, fault-finding and continuous improvement across existing and future production lines.
• Develop standardised plant modules and engineering solutions to support repeatable commercial deployment.
• Support the ongoing development and operation of the UK pilot plant, using operational feedback to inform future designs.
• Provide engineering oversight during installation, commissioning, start-up and handover activities.

Safety, Compliance & Quality:

• Ensure engineering designs comply with applicable UK and international standards and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee design risk assessments and contribute to HAZOP studies, machinery safety assessments and ATEX-related design activities.
• Ensure appropriate consideration of relevant ISO, IEC, ASME/ASTM, CE/UKCA and PED requirements.
• Maintain robust engineering documentation, change control and design verification processes.
• Develop and review maintenance strategies and procedures to support equipment reliability, safety and long-term performance.
• International travel will be required occasionally to support partners, suppliers, installations and commissioning activities.

What We're Looking For

Essential Experience

• A degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Significant experience in mechanical, electrical or electro-mechanical design within process engineering, industrial machinery, manufacturing equipment or comparable heavy industrial environments.
• Proven experience in a Lead Engineer, Principal Engineer, Engineering Design Lead or similar senior engineering position.
• Demonstrable leadership experience, including guiding engineers, coordinating workloads, reviewing technical output and taking responsibility for engineering delivery.
• Strong experience in plant equipment design, manufacturing drawings, CAD and engineering documentation.
• Experience delivering complex engineering projects from concept through detailed design, manufacture and commissioning.
• Understanding of electrical systems, industrial controls, three-phase motors, VFDs and PLC/HMI interfaces.
• Knowledge of machinery safety, hazardous-area requirements, ATEX and HAZOP processes.
• Familiarity with relevant engineering standards, quality management and engineering change control.
• Strong technical judgement, project management, communication and stakeholder management skills.

Desirable Experience

• SolidWorks proficiency; certification would be advantageous.
• Experience in R&D, industrialisation, advanced engineering or scaling technology from pilot to commercial production.
• Exposure to pyrolysis, thermal processing, chemical conversion or circular technologies.
• Experience with waste processing or end-of-life materials recovery.
• Control system design or automation integration experience.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 quality management systems.

The Opportunity:

• This role offers the chance to take a leading engineering position within an innovative clean technology business at a significant stage of its development.
• You will have the opportunity to:
• Lead and develop: Take a genuine leadership role in shaping engineering capability and delivery.
• Influence technical direction: Make key decisions around design, equipment, standards and engineering strategy.
• Deliver commercial-scale technology: Help transform a pilot process into industrial production plants.
• Work internationally: Collaborate with engineering partners, consultancies and specialist suppliers across the UK, Europe and the US.
• Make a tangible impact: Improve the performance, reliability and scalability of technology supporting more sustainable materials recovery.

Apply

• If you have a strong background in mechanical or electrical design engineering, experience leading engineering activities and an interest in developing innovative industrial technology, we would welcome a conversation.
• Apply today to discuss the opportunity and how your experience could contribute to the next stage of the business's growth.

Your CV will be forwarded to Jonathan Lee Recruitment, a leading engineering and manufacturing recruitment consultancy established in 1978. The services advertised by Jonathan Lee Recruitment are those of an Employment Agency.
In order for your CV to be processed effectively, please ensure your name, email address, phone number and location (post code OR town OR county, as a minimum) are included.

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