ATA Recruitment
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
?%
Design Engineer
Exeter | £35,000 - £42,000 + Benefits | Permanent | Monday-Friday
ATA Recruitment are supporting an established and growing engineering solutions business seeking a Design Engineer to join its Exeter operation. This is an excellent opportunity to become part of a specialist engineering team delivering custom hydraulic and pneumatic systems for blue-chip clients across aerospace, defence, manufacturing, FMCG, water, and industrial sectors.
With significant investment, ambitious growth plans, and a strong reputation for delivering complex engineering solutions, this role offers the chance to work on technically challenging projects while developing your expertise in hydraulic system design.
About the Company
Our client is part of one of the UK's leading engineering and industrial component groups, employing over 600 people nationwide and supplying engineered solutions to some of the world's most recognised manufacturing and industrial organisations.
Their specialist engineering division designs, manufactures, tests, and installs bespoke systems. The Exeter operation delivers full turnkey projects, taking solutions from concept and design through to manufacture, installation, commissioning, and ongoing support.
Customers include major organisations operating within aerospace, defence, advanced manufacturing, food production, and industrial engineering environments.
The Role
As Design Engineer, you will be responsible for designing bespoke systems and supporting structures for a wide variety of industrial applications.
Projects typically range from £5,000 to £450,000 and involve a combination of hydraulic, mechanical, and fabrication design work.
You will work closely with production, installation teams, suppliers, and customers to ensure solutions are practical, cost-effective, and manufacturable.
Key Responsibilities
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.
- Design hydraulic power units and hydraulic systems for industrial applications
- Produce detailed 3D models using SolidWorks
- Create manufacturing and assembly drawings
- Design hydraulic cylinders and associated components
- Carry out Design for Manufacture (DFM) activities
- Design fabricated structures including:
- Frames
- Skids
- Enclosures
- Bracketry
- Fabricated assemblies
- Support projects from concept through to manufacture
- Liaise with suppliers, customers, and internal engineering teams
- Support continuous improvement and engineering best practice initiatives
What We're Looking For
We are keen to speak with Design Engineers, Mechanical Design Engineers, Project Design Engineers, or Product Design Engineers from a manufacturing or engineering environment.
Essential Requirements
- Experience in a mechanical design role
- Proficient in SolidWorks or similar 3D CAD package
- Experience producing detailed manufacturing drawings
- Strong understanding of fabrication and sheet metal design
- Ability to interpret engineering specifications and customer requirements
- Good communication and problem-solving skills
Desirable Experience
- Hydraulic system design
- Pneumatic system design
- Mechanical handling equipment
- Industrial machinery
- Fluid power systems
- Pressure systems
- Defence or aerospace projects
- Design calculations and technical specifications
Candidates without direct hydraulic design experience are encouraged to apply, as full training and development can be provided for engineers with strong mechanical design fundamentals.
What's On Offer
- £35,000 - £42,000 basic salary
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Company pension
- Career progression within a growing engineering group
- Exposure to diverse engineering projects
- Technical training and development
- Opportunity to develop specialist hydraulic design expertise
- Stable, long-term career prospects
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Why Apply?
This is an opportunity to join a business that combines the resources and stability of a major engineering group with the flexibility and technical variety of a specialist engineering company.
You'll work on bespoke projects rather than repetitive product design, gain exposure to high-profile customers, and develop highly sought-after skills in hydraulic system engineering.
If you're a Mechanical Design Engineer who enjoys solving engineering challenges and wants to be involved in projects from concept through to installation, we'd like to hear from you.
ATA Recruitment are working exclusively with this client. We will be conducting a short list starting today, and we will conduct the 1st interview over the phone. The successful candidates will then be forwarded to our client with our recommendation.
If you wish to be considered for this opportunity, then please respond with your intention as we are looking to fill this role in the not-so-distant future. You will then be contacted by one of our Recruitment Consultants who will be able to provide more details.
Contact:
Bhav Patel
Recruitment Consultant
ATA Recruitment specialises in Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Civil, Transportation, and general Engineering recruitment on both a permanent and contract basis – for more opportunities like this one, visit our website.
By applying, you accept the terms of our Privacy Notice, which can be found on our website.
ATA is committed to creating a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
“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
Skills