Design Engineer

Location: South Brent

Design Engineer

Exeter | £35,000 - £42,000 + Benefits | Permanent | Monday-Friday

ATA Recruitment are supporting an established and growing engineering solutions business is seeking a Design Engineer to join its Exeter operation. This is an excellent opportunity to become part of a specialist engineering team delivering custom hydraulic and pneumatic systems for blue-chip clients across aerospace, defence, manufacturing, FMCG, water, and industrial sectors.

With significant investment, ambitious growth plans, and a strong reputation for delivering complex engineering solutions, this role offers the chance to work on technically challenging projects while developing your expertise in hydraulic system design.

About the Company

Our client is part of one of the UK's leading engineering and industrial component groups, employing over 600 people nationwide and supplying engineered solutions to some of the world's most recognised manufacturing and industrial organisations.

Their a specialist engineering division designs, manufactures, tests and installs bespoke systems, the Exeter operation delivers full turnkey projects, taking solutions from concept and design through to manufacture, installation, commissioning and ongoing support.

Customers include major organisations operating within aerospace, defence, advanced manufacturing, food production and industrial engineering environments.

The Role

As Design Engineer, you will be responsible for designing bespoke systems and supporting structures for a wide variety of industrial applications.

Projects typically range from £5,000 to £450,000 and involve a combination of hydraulic, mechanical and fabrication design work.

You will work closely with production, installation teams, suppliers and customers to ensure solutions are practical, cost-effective and manufacturable.

Key Responsibilities

Design hydraulic power units and hydraulic systems for industrial applications
Produce detailed 3D models using Solid Works
Create manufacturing and assembly drawings
Design hydraulic cylinders and associated components
Carry out Design for Manufacture (DFM) activities
Design fabricated structures including:

Frames
Skids
Enclosures
Bracketry
Fabricated assemblies

Support projects from concept through to manufacture
Liaise with suppliers, customers and internal engineering teams
Support continuous improvement and engineering best practice initiatives
What We're Looking For

We are keen to speak with Design Engineers, Mechanical Design Engineers, Project Design Engineers or Product Design Engineers from a manufacturing or engineering environment.

Essential Requirements

Experience in a mechanical design role
Proficient in Solid Works or similar 3D CAD package
Experience producing detailed manufacturing drawings
Strong understanding of fabrication and sheet metal design
Ability to interpret engineering specifications and customer requirements
Good communication and problem-solving skills

Desirable Experience

Hydraulic system design
Pneumatic system design
Mechanical handling equipment
Industrial machinery
Fluid power systems
Pressure systems
Defence or aerospace projects
Design calculations and technical specifications
Candidates without direct hydraulic design experience are encouraged to apply, as full training and development can be provided for engineers with strong mechanical design fundamentals.

What's On Offer

£35,000 - £42,000 basic salary
25 days holiday plus bank holidays
Company pension
Career progression within a growing engineering group
Exposure to diverse engineering projects
Technical training and development
Opportunity to develop specialist hydraulic design expertise
Stable, long-term career prospects
Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to join a business that combines the resources and stability of a major engineering group with the flexibility and technical variety of a specialist engineering company.

You'll work on bespoke projects rather than repetitive product design, gain exposure to high-profile customers and develop highly sought-after skills in hydraulic system engineering.

If you're a Mechanical Design Engineer who enjoys solving engineering challenges and wants to be involved in projects from…