Randstad
Senior Mechanical Design Engineer
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✈️ Senior Mechanical Design Engineer
📍 Location: Bedfordshire (Hybrid: 3 days/week on-site)
💰 Contract Rate: Up to £400/day (Inside IR35)
🛡️ Clearance Requirements: BPSS required (must be eligible for SC Clearance: 5+ years UK residency)
📅 Application Deadline: COB Wednesday, 9th September
🚁 Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced Mechanical Design Engineer with a strong aerospace background to join a rapidly growing unmanned systems project team in Bedfordshire.
In this role, you will support technical leadership on complex, multidisciplinary design challenges across the entire lifecycle of innovative aerospace systems—from requirements management, concept, and payload integration to composite manufacturing, testing, and supplier management.
⚙️ Key Responsibilities
💻 Design, Analysis & Prototyping
- Lead day-to-day 3D CAD modeling, surfacing, complex assemblies, detail drawings, and BOM creation using SolidWorks (experience with CATIA, Creo, Inventor, or NX is also valued).
- Perform first-pass analysis (basic FEA and CFD) using embedded CAD analysis suites to validate design concepts.
- Drive product innovation using CAE/CAM tools to design and develop rapid prototype airframes and structural components.
- Select appropriate materials and manufacturing processes, including wet-layup for developmental composites and metallic structures/containers.
- Design for specialized aerospace applications, including payload integration, holistic aircraft performance optimization, and all-electric propulsion systems (including eVTOL).
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📐 Design Governance, Risk & DFMA
- Apply robust design principles (DFM, DFA, DFMA) and conduct DFMEAs, risk assessments, and technical specification reviews.
- Prepare comprehensive technical documentation, including User Requirements, CONOPS, Design/Product Specifications, and Commissioning Plans.
📊 Project Delivery & Technical Leadership
- Manage specific project Work Packages (WPs), taking ownership of schedules, costs, task allocation, and risk mitigation.
- Assist Program Managers with estimation, dependency mapping, and tracking project progress to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery.
- Act as the Technical Point of Contact and liaison for key external suppliers and partners.
- Conduct timely reviews with team members on assigned deliverables to maintain strict quality standards and meet customer expectations.
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📋 Essential Experience & Qualifications
- Experience: 7+ years of mechanical design engineering experience within the Aerospace / Aerostructures sector.
- CAD & CAE Expertise: High proficiency in SolidWorks (solid modeling, surfacing, drafting, basic FEA/CFD) or equivalent CAD packages.
- Aerospace Systems: Hands-on experience with wing/fuselage structures, payload integration, composite fabrication (e.g., wet-layup), and electric propulsion/eVTOL airframes.
- Engineering Rigor: Proven ability to conduct first-principles hand calculations and run structured DFMEAs.
- Process & Tooling: Strong knowledge of DFM/DFA principles, 3D printing/additive manufacturing, and full-lifecycle product development.
🔒 Security Clearance Requirements
Candidates must undergo workforce screening, including Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks, and be eligible for UK National Security Vetting (SC Clearance). To qualify for SC clearance, you must have resided in the UK continuously for at least the past 5 years.
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