Principal Engineer

Location: Staffordshire

As a Principal Engineer will provide technical leadership and governance for cab and operator systems across our clients machinery products. You will ensure designs are safe, compliant, robust, and fit for long term use, while supporting programme delivery and continuous improvement.

You’ll play a central role in ensuring the team develop robust design solutions whilst ensuring technical, cost and quality requirements are met from concept through to production. As part of this, you’ll play an integral part of the systems cost saving challenge.

You’ll support the quality, manufacturing and service teams in resolving concerns arising as a result of fabrication, assembly and warranty issues.

Principal Engineer Responsibilities:

* Act as technical authority for Operator Environment systems, including cab layout, ergonomics, HVAC, controls, visibility, noise and vibration.

* Lead Operator Environment input to NPIP and Technical Reviews (TR1–ESO), ensuring robust and timely delivery.

* Ensure compliance with legislation, standards, and internal engineering requirements.

* Own and manage technical risk, including DFMEAs and validation strategies.

* Drive standardisation, reuse, and complexity reduction across Operator Environment systems.

* Work closely with cross functional teams (Structures, E&E, Manufacturing, Purchasing, Business Units).

* Support and challenge suppliers to deliver technically sound and cost-effective solutions.

* Mentor and support engineers, helping build capability and raise technical standards within the team.

* Liaise with test and development teams on validation of Endurance, Customer Evaluation and DVP build requirements.

* Feed learning from testing, field data, and warranty into future designs.

* Principal Engineer Requirements:

* Strong technical background in Operator Environment, Cab Systems, or similar complex mechanical systems.

* Experience providing technical leadership on multi-disciplinary engineering projects.

* Solid understanding of engineering governance, risk management, and validation.

* Comfortable operating at Technical Review and programme level with senior stakeholders.

* Able to balance safety, performance, cost, quality, and delivery.

* Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment

* Experience in design of structural fabrications and plastic mouldings.

* Understanding of Earth Moving machinery design and governance.

* Proficient in the use of CAD and Teamcenter.

* Degree in Mechanical (or similar) Engineering or you have proven applicable work experience.

Principal Engineer Benefits:

In addition to an excellent salary, career progression and development opportunities, our client offers an excellent company pension scheme, medical insurance and dental care schemes, access to the company’s healthy living centre and 33 days annual leave and flexibility around daily start and finish times. You will also have access to the Company’s Reward Hub, giving you fantastic savings across a huge range of high street retailers, as well as access to exclusive company perks such as the ULEV Car Scheme and Cycle to Work Scheme.

Principal Engineer Applications:

** VISA Sponsorship is NOT available for this role*
* This vacancy is only available to Candidates with relevant experience as detailed in the job description. Due to volume of applications, we are unable to respond to applicants who do not possess the required skills and experience. Recent Graduates who do not have the required level of industry experience need not apply.

Candidates must be authorised to work in the country where this role is located BEFORE making an application