LHH
Computer Aided Design Design Engineer
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
CAD Design Engineer
Location: Oxfordshire
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
Employment Type: Contract
The Opportunity
What if your CAD work wasn't simply about producing drawings, but about helping design the next generation of high-performance components for aerospace, defence and advanced propulsion applications?
We're working with an innovative engineering business at the forefront of advanced materials and additive manufacturing, developing complex components and technologies for demanding applications across defence, aerospace, propulsion and advanced engineering.
As a CAD Design Engineer, you'll work alongside mechanical engineers, manufacturing specialists, materials scientists and technicians to turn engineering concepts into manufacturable, high-performance components.
You'll be working on technology with real-world applications across sectors where performance, reliability and engineering capability matter.
What you'll be doing
- Creating and developing detailed 3D CAD models of complex components and assemblies
- Taking concepts through design iterations towards prototype and production
- Producing detailed engineering drawings and manufacturing documentation
- Working closely with manufacturing and production teams to ensure designs are practical and repeatable
- Applying Design for Manufacture and Assembly principles to complex components
- Supporting the development of components manufactured using advanced metal additive manufacturing
- Optimising component geometry for performance, weight, manufacturability and cost
- Supporting the development of components for defence, aerospace and propulsion applications
- Supporting design reviews and resolving engineering issues through iterative design
- Working with engineers across mechanical design, materials, manufacturing and testing
- Contributing to prototype development, testing and design improvements
- Maintaining accurate CAD data, drawings and engineering documentation
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Key Skills & Experience
We're interested in engineers who enjoy solving difficult design problems rather than simply producing CAD models.
You'll ideally have:
- Experience working in a mechanical design or CAD engineering environment
- Strong 3D CAD capability, ideally using SolidWorks, Siemens NX, Fusion 360 or a similar package
- Experience producing detailed engineering drawings
- Good understanding of GD&T and engineering drawing standards
- Experience with Design for Manufacture and Assembly
- Understanding of mechanical engineering principles and materials
- Experience designing components for CNC, additive manufacturing or other advanced manufacturing processes
- Strong attention to detail and an ability to iterate designs based on testing and manufacturing feedback
- A practical, hands-on approach to engineering
- Degree or equivalent qualification in Mechanical Engineering, Product Design Engineering or a related discipline
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Why this role?
This isn't a traditional CAD role where you'll be handed a drawing and asked to make it production-ready.
You'll be involved much earlier in the engineering process, working with multidisciplinary teams to understand how a component needs to perform, how it can be manufactured and how the design can be pushed further.
The business is developing technology across advanced materials, metal additive manufacturing and next-generation propulsion, with applications spanning aerospace and defence as well as other advanced engineering markets.
That means your work could contribute to products and technologies operating in some of the most demanding environments in the world.
The Environment
You'll be joining a highly technical engineering environment where mechanical engineers, materials specialists, software engineers, manufacturing specialists and technicians work closely together.
You'll have the opportunity to see designs move beyond the CAD screen and into prototype manufacture, inspection, testing and production.
For someone who enjoys CAD, mechanical engineering, advanced manufacturing and defence technology, this is an opportunity to work at the point where those disciplines meet.
If you're looking for a role where your CAD skills contribute to real engineering programmes rather than simply producing drawings, we'd like to hear from you.
Apply now for a confidential conversation about the opportunity.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London