Mechanical Design Engineer

About the role

TBG Solutions designs and manufactures bespoke automated electrical test equipment for customers operating in demanding engineering sectors, including aerospace and defence.

We are looking for a Mechanical Design Engineer to join our multidisciplinary engineering team. This isn’t a role designing the same product repeatedly. Our projects are typically bespoke, so you could be designing a test fixture for an aerospace component on one project, an equipment rack or operator console on another, and a complete electromechanical test system on the next.

You’ll work alongside Systems, Electrical, Electronics, Software and Production engineers to turn customer requirements into practical, manufacturable test solutions. You’ll be involved throughout the engineering lifecycle - from initial concepts and design reviews through detailed design, manufacture, assembly and, where required, installation and commissioning.

What you’ll be designing

• Test fixtures, jigs and mechanical interfaces.
• Equipment racks and cabinets.
• Operator consoles and workstations.
• Sheet-metal assemblies and fabricated structures.
• Electrical and electronic equipment enclosures.
• Mounting arrangements for instrumentation, connectors and control equipment.
• Access panels, doors, guards and mechanisms.
• Bespoke interfaces between the customer’s product and the test system.
• Mechanical elements of complete automated test systems.
• You’ll need to consider not just how something looks in CAD, but how it will be manufactured, assembled, wired, maintained and used.

What you’ll be doing

• Develop mechanical concepts from customer requirements and engineering specifications.
• Produce high-quality 3D models and detailed manufacturing drawings using SolidWorks.
• Design in accordance with appropriate engineering drawing standards, including BS 8888.
• Apply GD&T appropriately to ensure parts and assemblies can be manufactured and inspected.
• Select suitable commercial components alongside bespoke manufactured parts.
• Produce and maintain mechanical BOMs and engineering documentation.
• Participate in design reviews with other engineering disciplines.
• Work closely with electrical engineers to ensure mechanical designs accommodate wiring, connectors, instrumentation, cooling, access and servicing requirements.
• Design with manufacturability, assembly, cost and lead time in mind.
• Work with suppliers and subcontract manufacturers to resolve technical queries.
• Support our Production team during manufacture and assembly.
• Investigate and resolve mechanical issues arising during system build and test.
• Maintain accurate drawings, revisions and engineering records throughout the project lifecycle.
• Occasionally support customer-site installation, commissioning or design activities.

What we’re looking for

• You’ll ideally have experience designing bespoke machinery, equipment or engineered systems rather than solely high-volume products.

Essential

• Mechanical engineering qualification such as HNC/HND, degree or equivalent practical experience.
• Strong 3D CAD and 2D detailing capability.
• Good working knowledge of SolidWorks.
• Experience producing manufacturing drawings.
• Understanding of BS 8888 and engineering drawing principles.
• Practical understanding of tolerances and GD&T.
• Understanding of common manufacturing processes such as machining, sheet-metal fabrication and fabrication/welding.
• Experience designing assemblies containing both manufactured and bought-in components.
• Experience creating and maintaining BOMs.
• Ability to design for manufacture and assembly.
• Ability to work effectively with engineers from other disciplines.
• A practical engineering mindset and willingness to support designs through manufacture and build.

Desirable

• Automated test equipment
• Test fixtures and jigs
• Electrical or electronic equipment
• Equipment racks and cabinets
• Sheet-metal design
• Electromechanical systems
• Industrial automation or special-purpose machinery
• Aerospace or defence engineering
• Low-volume, high-complexity bespoke equipment

The type of engineer who will enjoy this role

This position would suit someone who enjoys solving different engineering problems rather than making incremental changes to the same product. You’ll need to be comfortable taking a requirement that isn’t always fully defined, developing a practical solution and working with engineers from several …