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Mechanical Design Engineer
Mechanical Design Engineer – Unmanned Systems (Bluebear Business, Bedfordshire)
Introduction
Saab UK is part of Scandinavia’s largest defence company, bringing together the best of Swedish and British innovation. We offer world-leading solutions and services in defence, aviation, space, and civil security.
Our UK presence is rapidly expanding—employing over 600 people across eight sites—and specialising in:
- Software engineering
- Underwater robotics
- Radar systems
- AI
- Armed forces training
With opportunities for career growth, you’ll join a dynamic environment pushing the boundaries of technology for safety and sustainability.
About the Role
As a leading defence and security company, Saab fulfils a critical purpose: protecting societies and keeping people safe.
Guided by 28,000+ talented professionals to envision solutions in:
- Aeronautics
- Weapons
- Command & control
- Sensors
- Underwater systems
Headquartered in Sweden but globally operational, Saab underpins defence capabilities for multiple nations through innovation and technological excellence.
This role is based in Bedfordshire, within the Saab UK Bluebear Business, supporting multidisciplinary challenges in the development of revolutionary unmanned systems.
Your work will combine:
- Technical leadership
- Innovation from concept to marketplace
- Involvement in requirements management, design, integration, manufacturing, and testing
Travel within the UK may be required to support project activities.
Key Responsibilities
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Core Duties & Accountabilities
- Perform daily CAD design tasks while balancing multidisciplinary design requirements—critical across aerospace development projects
- Deliver assigned work packages, ensuring adherence to:
- Timeline
- Budget
- Risk management protocols
- Active participation in design, integration, verification, and testing phases—throughout the product lifecycle
- Develop cutting-edge product concepts, prototypes, and designs using advanced tools:
- CAE (Computational Analysis & Engineering)
- CAD (Computer-Aided Design)
- CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing)
- Collaborate on material selection and manufacturing methods:
- Composite materials
- Metallic aerospace components
- Support payload and propulsion system integration, including:
- All-electric propulsion
- eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) applications
- Aircraft‐level optimisations to assess thermal, structural, and performance impacts
- Document administration:
- Creating and maintaining engineering specifications, DFMEAs (Design Failure Mode and Effect Analyses), and risk assessments
- Engage with customers and stakeholders to capture, interpret, and apply emerging technologies
- Assist programme management through:
- Cost estimation
- Project planning
- Dependency management
- Progress tracking
Required Qualifications & Skills
- Degree or HND in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related discipline
- Proficiency in SolidWorks, including:
- Solid modelling
- Surface creation
- Assembly architectures
- Detail drawings
- Bill of Materials (BoM) creation
- Engineering drawing expertise, with a strong record producing technical documents aligned with industry standards
- Hands-on experience across the entire product development spectrum:
- Conceptual design
- Detailed design
- Prototyping
- Manufacturing
- Assembly
- Testing and validation
- Capability to perform basic FEA (Finite Element Analysis) and CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) to inform design decisions
- Technical familiarity with:
- Material selection and compatibility for metallic and composite aerospace materials
- Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFMA) principles
- Direct experience in prototyping, integration, and test activities
- Exceptional ability to translate customer requirements into system-level engineering designs
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Desired Qualifications & Skills
- Prior experience in any of the following sectors:
- Aerospace
- Unmanned systems (UAVs, drones)
- Defence
- Space technology
- Advanced air mobility
Security & Compliance
By applying for this role, you acknowledge that Saab UK may conduct workforce screening, which includes (not limited to):
- Baseline Personnel Security Checks (BS7858)
- National Security Vetting
- Reference validation
- Wright’s Check (verification of work rights)
- Mandatory security interviews for shortlisted candidates
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