Role:           Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Location:     Lowestoft

Salary:         up to £50,000 per annum 

The Role

This is a senior, hands-on engineering role leading the design and development of bespoke industrial vehicles. You will take ownership of the full product lifecycle; from concept through to production, ensuring each 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.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership:

• Own the overall design strategy, approve final engineering outputs and 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, turning client concepts into detailed designs using CAD, simulation and prototyping tools. Balance innovation with manufacturability.

Project Delivery:

• Collaborate with project teams to deliver on time and within budget. Manage multiple projects, identify risks early and support builds through production and commissioning.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
• Partner closely with sales, manufacturing, procurement and service teams, while engaging directly with clients to clarify technical requirements and ensure expectations are met.

Compliance & Standards:

• Ensure all engineering meets industry regulations, safety standards and documentation requirements, maintaining full traceability throughout the design process.
• Innovation & Improvement:
• Drive continuous improvement across designs, tools and processes, exploring new technologies such as electrification and automation where relevant.

Team Leadership:

• Mentor and develop engineers, set best practices and lead design reviews to build a high-performing, capable engineering team.
• Customer Focus:
• Deliver solutions that not only meet technical requirements but also exceed customer expectations in quality, usability, and value.

Key Skills & Experience

• 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 (e.g. 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, and 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.