Job Description:

Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Salary: Up to £65,000 + benefits
Location: Cambridge (hybrid working available)

The Opportunity

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to join a growing engineering team working on cutting-edge RF and microwave technologies. You will play a key role in developing innovative, high-frequency products from initial concept through to volume production, supporting applications across telecommunications, aerospace, defence and space sectors.

This is a senior-level position offering the chance to take ownership of complex engineering challenges, contribute to advanced product development, and influence best practice within a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment.

The Role

As a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer, you will lead the design and development of high-performance mechanical solutions for RF systems, modules and amplifiers. You will be responsible for ensuring designs meet stringent requirements for thermal performance, structural integrity, manufacturability and reliability.

Key Responsibilities

Mechanical Design & Development

• Lead the design of precision mechanical components and assemblies, including enclosures, heatsinks and waveguide structures
• Develop lightweight, thermally efficient and robust mechanical architectures
• Produce and review detailed 3D CAD models and engineering drawings (SolidWorks)
• Ensure compliance with RF, thermal, environmental and mechanical requirements (including EMI, vibration and shock)
• Select appropriate materials, finishes and manufacturing processes

Analysis & Engineering Validation

• Conduct or support thermal and structural analysis (FEA/CFD)
• Validate designs through testing and simulation correlation
• Assess performance under demanding environmental conditions

Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration

• Work closely with RF, electronics and systems teams to optimise product performance
• Contribute to design reviews and technical decision-making
• Provide mentorship and guidance to less experienced engineers

Manufacturing & Production Support

• Drive design for manufacture, assembly and cost optimisation
• Support prototype builds, testing and production readiness
• Manage engineering documentation, drawings and change processes (ECO/ECN)
• Liaise with suppliers and production teams to resolve technical issues

Testing & Continuous Improvement

• Oversee prototype development and environmental testing activities
• Capture lessons learned to enhance future product designs
• Support qualification and reliability programs

About You

Essential

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent)
• Extensive experience in mechanical design within high-reliability or technically demanding industries
• Strong proficiency in SolidWorks (2D & 3D CAD)
• Experience designing precision assemblies for constrained environments
• Solid understanding of materials, manufacturing processes and GD&T
• Knowledge of EMI shielding, PCB integration and thermal management
• Ability to lead technical discussions and collaborate across teams

Desirable

• Experience in RF, microwave, aerospace, defence or space-related engineering
• Familiarity with thermal/FEA simulation tools (e.g. SolidWorks Simulation/Flow)
• Understanding of waveguides, amplifiers and high-frequency systems
• Experience with high-reliability standards (MIL-STD, ECSS)
• Exposure to environmental testing (vibration, thermal cycling, vacuum)

Personal Attributes

• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• Proactive, hands-on and self-motivated
• Confident communicator across technical and non-technical teams
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities
• Collaborative mindset with a strong customer focus
• Comfortable taking ownership and driving engineering decisions

Additional Information

• Candidates must be eligible to obtain relevant security clearance
• Opportunity to work on advanced, high-impact engineering programmes
• Supportive environment with opportunities for professional growth

If you're an experienced mechanical engineer looking to work on cutting-edge technology in a high-performance engineering environment, this role offers an excellent opportunity to advance your career.

If you receive suspicious outreach claiming to be from us, please contact us via the ManpowerGroup website.