Product Design Engineer

Product Design Engineer Location: Melksham, Wiltshire Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time The Opportunity A well-established engineering and manufacturing company is seeking a Product Design Engineer to join its technical team in Melksham. The business develops and manufactures highly engineered products and systems for customers across the industrial, defence, transportation, and marine sectors worldwide. This is an exciting opportunity to work on innovative products used within demanding environments, including marine vehicles and specialist marine systems. You'll be involved throughout the product development lifecycle, from concept and design through to testing, validation, and production, while contributing to a range of new product development and R&D projects. Key Responsibilities Product Development Develop innovative product concepts based on customer and market requirements. Produce detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, and engineering drawings. Conduct tolerance analysis, FMEA, Design for Manufacture (DFM), and reliability assessments. Define product performance requirements and testing methodologies. Support prototype development, testing, and validation activities. Project Management Manage engineering projects from concept through to completion. Establish project milestones, budgets, and delivery schedules. Coordinate internal resources and monitor project progress. Ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget. Compliance & Validation Support product approval, verification, and certification activities. Plan and oversee development and qualification testing programmes. Ensure designs comply with relevant industry standards and customer requirements. Production & Technical Support Support the introduction of new products into manufacturing. Work closely with production, quality, and procurement teams to optimise product performance and manufacturability. Assist with tooling design, process improvements, and continuous improvement initiatives. Provide technical support to customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders. Documentation Maintain engineering documentation, design records, test reports, and technical specifications. Participate in design reviews and project meetings. About You You are a proactive and creative engineer who enjoys solving technical challenges and bringing new products to market. You can balance hands-on engineering with project management responsibilities and are comfortable working independently while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. Essential Requirements Degree-qualified in Mechanical Engineering, Product Design, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline (or equivalent industry experience). Proficiency with 3D CAD software such as SolidWorks, Inventor, Creo, Solid Edge, or similar. Strong understanding of engineering design principles and product development processes. Experience with product testing, validation, and problem-solving methodologies. Excellent communication and organisational skills. Desirable Experience Experience in any of the following areas would be advantageous: Injection moulded plastic components Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Electro-mechanical systems PLC-controlled equipment Manufacturing and machining processes Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T) ERP/MRP systems and BOM management Rapid prototyping and 3D printing technologies Research & Development environments Safety-critical or regulated industries Marine engineering or marine systems