Mechanical Design Engineer

Mechanical Design Engineer Location: Oxford Type: Permanent | Full-Time The Company Our client is a specialist engineering business developing highly advanced automation and precision manufacturing equipment for international industrial markets. Operating within a fast-paced R&D and product development environment, the company designs bespoke machinery incorporating high-precision motion systems, complex mechanical assemblies, and cutting-edge process technologies. Due to continued growth and new project activity, they are looking to appoint an experienced Mechanical Design Engineer to join their engineering team in Oxford. The Role This is an excellent opportunity for a Mechanical Design Engineer with experience designing complex capital equipment, automation systems, or high-precision industrial machinery. Working within a multi-disciplinary engineering environment, you will support the full product development lifecycle from concept design through to manufacturing release, contributing to the development of technically advanced bespoke equipment. Key Responsibilities Create and develop 3D mechanical designs and detailed manufacturing drawings using Autodesk Inventor Design and integrate precision mechanical assemblies, motion systems, and automation equipment Manage design documentation, BOMs, and revision control using PDM systems Perform tolerance analysis and produce high-quality engineering drawings to recognised standards Apply DFM, DFA, and value engineering principles throughout the design lifecycle Produce technical specifications, build documentation, and manufacturing instructions Support prototype builds, testing, troubleshooting, and continuous product improvement activities Collaborate closely with electrical, software, manufacturing, and quality teams Participate in design reviews and contribute to engineering process improvements Support technical problem-solving activities during machine build and customer deployment phases Ensure designs comply with relevant machinery safety and quality standards Requirements 5+ years' experience in mechanical design of industrial equipment, automation machinery, or capital equipment Strong 3D CAD experience using Autodesk Inventor or similar platforms Experience designing precision mechanical assemblies and motion-based systems Good understanding of tolerance analysis, manufacturing processes, and engineering drawing standards Experience applying DFM, DFA, and value engineering methodologies Knowledge of machinery compliance and regulated engineering environments Strong analytical and problem-solving engineering capability Ability to work effectively within cross-functional engineering teams Excellent communication and technical documentation skills Desirable Experience Experience within automation, semiconductor, photonics, scientific equipment, or advanced manufacturing sectors Experience taking products from concept or prototype through to production release Customer-facing engineering or FAT/SAT exposure Experience working alongside software and electrical engineering teams Chartered Engineer status or working towards accreditation