Junior Product Design Engineer

About the role:

We are looking for a junior product design engineer to play a key supporting role in the design and development of innovative products at OPD.

We’re looking for a junior product design consultant with at least 2-3 years of product development experience, preferably gained in a consultancy environment.

Working collaboratively and building strong relationships with colleagues and clients is central to this role, but it’s also important that you can work independently and autonomously too.

• Apply mechanical engineering principles and first-principles thinking to support the development of technically robust product designs and engineering solutions
• Create and maintain 3D CAD models, assemblies, technical drawings, and associated design documentation using Solid Works or equivalent CAD software
• Support prototype builds, testing activities, design verification programmes, and engineering investigations to evaluate and improve product performance
• Select and apply appropriate engineering materials, including metals, polymers, elastomers, and composites, considering performance, manufacturability, cost, and project requirements
• Contribute to the development of products designed for manufacture by applying knowledge of manufacturing processes such as machining, fabrication, moulding, casting, additive manufacturing, and assembly
• Design and specify common mechanical components and systems, including fasteners, bearings, mechanisms, seals, structural parts, and electromechanical assemblies
• Perform engineering calculations, analyses, and investigations to identify issues, evaluate design options, and develop practical, cost-effective solutions
• Prepare technical reports, specifications, presentations, and design documentation, communicating engineering information clearly to colleagues, clients, suppliers, and other stakeholders
• Manage assigned tasks and deliverables effectively, ensuring work is completed accurately, to a high standard, and within project timescales
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver projects, contributing engineering expertise throughout the product development process
• Support a variety of client projects across different sectors, adapting quickly to new technologies, industries, and technical challenges within a consultancy environment
• Participate in hands-on engineering activities including prototype assembly, workshop tasks, testing, fault-finding, product development builds, and validation activities
• Support project delivery by contributing to design reviews, client meetings, technical discussions, and project planning activities
• Build strong working relationships with clients, suppliers, and project teams, representing the company in a professional and collaborative manner

• Degree qualified in Mechanical Engineering, Product Design Engineering, Design Engineering, or a related discipline
• At least 2-3 years of product development experience, preferably gained in a consultancy environment
• Hands-on engineering experience through projects, prototyping, testing, or workshop activities is highly valued
• Use and knowledge of AI tools
• [Desirable] Familiarity with FEA, CFD, or other engineering simulation tools
• [Desirable] Experience with design for manufacture (DFM), design for assembly (DFA), and tolerance stack-up analysis
• [Desirable] Knowledge of product testing methodologies, experimental design, and root-cause investigation
• [Desirable] Experience designing products for regulated industries such as medical devices, aerospace, defence, or respiratory protection
• [Desirable] Experience working with electronics, sensors, motors, batteries, or electromechanical systems