Principal Mechanical Design Engineer

DRIVING THE FUTURE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES

We are the world leader of in-wheel motor technology for passenger cars, light commercial vehicles and future transport solutions.

Protean Electric is an automotive technology firm with over 100 talented people globally. Our mission is to drive sustainable transport through innovation, and we are the imagination behind vehicles that travel further, perform better and use fewer components.

We believe that freedom of ideas, integrity of response, desire to improve, and collaborative thinking drive innovation. Joining Protean means working with talented experts across the organisation who value your ideas, empower you to make a difference, and encourage you to challenge yourself and others.

We are seeking the right individual to join our Mechanical Design team.

The Principal Mechanical Design Engineer is a senior technical leader responsible for the design, development and delivery of mechanical and electromechanical systems for the in-wheel motor. As part of the Mechanical Design team, the Principal Mechanical Design Engineer will provide technical direction for mechanical engineering activities across assigned projects and major work packages, ensuring robust engineering decisions, effective cross-functional delivery, and successful progression through the gated development process.

This role is expected to combine deep engineering capability with strong delivery leadership. The Principal Mechanical Design Engineer will lead complex problem resolution, guide mechanical decision-making, coordinate technical activities with minimal intervention, and act as a key interface between Mechanical Design and other business functions, suppliers and customers. They will also support and mentor other engineers across the business.

This role reports to the Mechanical Design Manager and has no direct reports, but provides technical leadership and task coordination within project teams. The role is based in Farnham, Surrey, UK, with occasional requirement for national and international travel, primarily to local suppliers, partners and production facilities.

• Lead the design and development of mechanical and electromechanical systems for the in-wheel motor and inverter from concept through to production.
• Act as the technical lead for mechanical engineering on assigned projects and major work packages, providing clear engineering direction and decision-making.
• Own complex mechanical problem solving, technical risk identification, and resolution through design reviews and gated development activities.
• Coordinate mechanical engineering delivery across cross-functional teams, ensuring robust progress toward project milestones with minimal supervision.
• Work closely with suppliers, customers, and internal functions to achieve technically sound, manufacturable, and cost-effective solutions.
• Ensure mechanical designs meet relevant standards, legislative requirements, and internal development processes.
• Support validation, DFMEA, release/change control, and production deployment activities as part of the wider product development lifecycle.
• Mentor other engineers and contribute to the continuous improvement of engineering capability, methods, and processes across the business.

Our values:

• Will to Win: we succeed by delivering to customers; on time, on quality and on cost
• Pioneering: we are passionate about the technology
• Courageous: we face our challenges
• Working Together: we can rely on each other, and others can rely on us
• Personally Responsible: we do what needs doing, when it needs doing
• With Integrity: we are honest, open and respectful

• Strong technical judgement grounded in engineering fundamentals and first-principles thinking.
• Able to lead complex engineering activities with a high degree of autonomy and accountability.
• Confident making, communicating, and defending technical decisions across multiple stakeholders.
• Practical, structured, and collaborative in…