Graduate CAD & Product Designer

Are you a recent graduate with a passion for Product Design, CAD or 3D modelling and looking for the opportunity to build a career within a hands-on manufacturing environment?

An exciting opportunity has become available for a Graduate / Junior Product Designer - CAD & Sketch Up Technician to join a successful UK manufacturer specialising in sports safety equipment, protective padding and bespoke products.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a graduate or early-career designer to gain real commercial design experience, working alongside an experienced Senior Designer and production team. You'll be involved in taking products from customer requirements and initial concepts through to production, giving you the opportunity to see your designs become real products.

The initial focus will be on Sketch Up modelling, product layouts, technical drawings and preparing production-ready files, with the role developing over time to include site visits, product development, prototyping, material optimisation and value engineering.

This would suit someone who is technically minded, curious, creative and practical, who enjoys solving problems and wants to understand how the products they design are actually manufactured.

• Creating accurate 2D and 3D designs using Sketch Up
• Producing customer drawings, product layouts and visualisations from specifications, measurements and site information
• Turning approved designs into accurate production-ready files
• Preparing files for digital cutting and manufacturing
• Producing clear technical drawings and manufacturing information
• Working closely with the production team to ensure designs are practical and can be manufactured efficiently
• Checking dimensions, specifications and tolerances before designs go into production
• Managing and maintaining accurate design and product records
• Making revisions and amendments following customer feedback or changes to requirements
• Supporting bespoke product development and prototyping
• Developing your knowledge of materials including foam, PVC, fabrics and associated components
• Supporting the Senior Designer with ongoing design and technical projects
• Looking for opportunities to improve material utilisation and reduce manufacturing waste
• Supporting value engineering, helping to find ways to manufacture products more efficiently without compromising quality
• As your experience develops, becoming involved in new product development from initial concept through to prototype and manufacture

• A recent graduate or early-career designer with a degree or relevant experience in Product Design, Industrial Design, Product Design Engineering, CAD, Mechanical Design, Manufacturing or Design Engineering
• Experience using Sketch Up and/or CAD software through university, placement or employment
• Strong attention to detail and an accurate, methodical approach
• Technically minded with a genuine interest in how products are designed and manufactured
• Creative and confident coming up with practical solutions to problems
• Able to understand dimensions, measurements and technical information
• Confident learning new software and systems
• Organised and able to manage multiple pieces of work
• Good communication skills and comfortable working closely with a production team
• Curious, ambitious and keen to learn
• Someone who enjoys using their initiative and getting involved rather than simply being given instructions
• A genuine interest in developing a long-term career within product design, CAD and manufacturing

• £26,000 to £28,000 per annum
• Structured salary reviews as your technical capability and responsibility develop
• 12-month fixed-term contract with the opportunity to extend
• Monday-Thursday 8:00am-5:00pm
• Friday 8:00am-1:30pm
• 20 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays
• Christmas shutdown
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), including access to GP and healthcare support, legal advice and debt management
• Free on-site parking
• Full support and training from an experienced Senior Designer and production team
• Hands-on commercial experience within a successful manufacturing business
• Opportunity to see your designs progress from concept through to manufacture
• Excellent opportunity to develop your technical design and manufacturing knowledge
• Opportunity to progress your responsibilities as your experience develops