Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Role: Senior Mechanical Design Engineer Location: Lowestoft Salary: up to £50,000 per annum The Role This is a senior, hands-on engineering role leading the design and development of bespoke industrial vehicles. You will take ownership of the full product lifecycle; from concept through to production, ensuring each solution is tailored to client needs, fully compliant and built for real-world performance. Working at the forefront of custom vehicle engineering, you will guide multidisciplinary teams, translate complex requirements into practical designs and play a key role in delivering innovative, high-quality products in a highly specialised environment. Key Responsibilities Technical Leadership: Own the overall design strategy, approve final engineering outputs and act as the key authority on technical decisions. Ensure all designs are robust, safe and suited to demanding applications. Bespoke Product Development: Lead the creation of custom vehicle solutions, turning client concepts into detailed designs using CAD, simulation and prototyping tools. Balance innovation with manufacturability. Project Delivery: Collaborate with project teams to deliver on time and within budget. Manage multiple projects, identify risks early and support builds through production and commissioning. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with sales, manufacturing, procurement and service teams, while engaging directly with clients to clarify technical requirements and ensure expectations are met. Compliance & Standards: Ensure all engineering meets industry regulations, safety standards and documentation requirements, maintaining full traceability throughout the design process. Innovation & Improvement: Drive continuous improvement across designs, tools and processes, exploring new technologies such as electrification and automation where relevant. Team Leadership: Mentor and develop engineers, set best practices and lead design reviews to build a high-performing, capable engineering team. Customer Focus: Deliver solutions that not only meet technical requirements but also exceed customer expectations in quality, usability, and value. Key Skills & Experience * Strong background in mechanical and systems engineering * Proven experience in bespoke or low-volume vehicle design * Ability to lead projects and make confident engineering decisions * Solid understanding of manufacturing processes and cost considerations * Advanced CAD skills (e.g. SolidWorks, AutoCAD) and familiarity with FEA/DFM * Deep knowledge of vehicle systems, safety, and compliance standards Requirements * Degree in Mechanical, Automotive or related Engineering discipline * 10–15+ years’ experience in vehicle or industrial design * Track record of leading full product development programmes * Experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams Desirable: Chartered status, Master’s degree, and exposure to emerging vehicle technologies (EV, composites, simulation tools). What Makes This Role Different? This isn’t a mass-production environment – every project is unique. You will work closely with clients, apply practical engineering judgement and bring creative solutions to life. It’s a role for someone who thrives on variety, enjoys solving complex challenges and takes pride in delivering truly bespoke engineering excellence