Senior Mechanical Design Engineer – Lead Bespoke Vehicle Design & Full Product Lifecycle Delivery

This is a senior, hands‑on engineering role leading the design and development of bespoke industrial vehicles. As a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer, you will take ownership of the full product lifecycle — from concept through to production — ensuring every solution is tailored to client needs, fully compliant and built for real‑world performance. Working at the forefront of custom vehicle engineering, you will guide multidisciplinary teams, translate complex requirements into practical designs and play a key role in delivering innovative, high‑quality products in a highly specialised environment.

About the Role

You will lead the design strategy for bespoke industrial vehicles, acting as the technical authority across multiple projects. You will balance innovation with manufacturability, oversee engineering outputs and ensure all designs meet stringent safety, compliance and performance standards. Working closely with sales, manufacturing, procurement and service teams, you will collaborate across the business while engaging directly with clients to clarify requirements and deliver exceptional engineering solutions.

This is a role for someone who thrives on variety, enjoys solving complex challenges and takes pride in delivering truly bespoke engineering excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Own the overall design strategy and approve final engineering outputs
• Act as the key authority on technical decisions
• Ensure all designs are robust, safe and suited to demanding applications

Bespoke Product Development

• Lead the creation of custom vehicle solutions from concept to production
• Translate client concepts into detailed designs using CAD, simulation and prototyping tools
• Balance innovation with manufacturability and cost considerations

Project Delivery

• Manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Collaborate with project teams to deliver on time and within budget
• Identify risks early and support builds through production and commissioning

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with sales, manufacturing, procurement and service teams
• Engage directly with clients to clarify technical requirements and ensure expectations are met

Compliance & Standards

• Ensure all engineering meets industry regulations and safety standards
• Maintain full documentation and traceability throughout the design process

Innovation & Improvement

• Drive continuous improvement across designs, tools and processes
• Explore emerging technologies including electrification, automation and advanced materials

Team Leadership and Customer Focus

• Mentor and develop engineers
• Set best practices and lead design reviews
• Build a high‑performing, capable engineering team
• Deliver solutions that exceed customer expectations in quality, usability and value

Key Skills & Experience

You bring deep technical expertise, strong leadership and the ability to deliver high‑quality engineering solutions in a bespoke, low‑volume environment.

• Strong background in mechanical and systems engineering
• Proven experience in bespoke or low‑volume vehicle design
• Ability to lead projects and make confident engineering decisions
• Solid understanding of manufacturing processes and cost considerations
• Advanced CAD skills (SolidWorks, AutoCAD) and familiarity with FEA/DFM
• Deep knowledge of vehicle systems, safety and compliance standards

Requirements

• Degree in Mechanical, Automotive or related Engineering discipline
• 10–15+ years’ experience in vehicle or industrial design
• Track record of leading full product development programmes
• Experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams

Desirable

• Chartered status
• Master’s degree
• Exposure to emerging vehicle technologies (EV, composites, simulation tools)

What Makes This Role Different?

This isn’t a mass‑production environment — every project is unique. You will work closely with clients, apply practical engineering judgement and bring creative solutions to life. It’s a role for someone who thrives on variety, enjoys solving complex challenges and takes pride in delivering truly bespoke engineering excellence.