Lead Design Engineer / Lead Design Engineeress

Lead Design Engineer

Salary: £45,000 - £60,000

Location: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

W Talent is seeking an experienced Lead Design Engineer or Design Team Leader to join a growing industrial engineering and manufacturing business located in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. The Lead Design Engineer will be responsible for the design and development of bespoke machinery and advanced engineering solutions.

This is a dynamic and hands-on position where you will take ownership of projects from initial concept and customer requirements through to detailed design, manufacture, installation, and commissioning. You will also provide technical leadership to the wider design team, helping to develop designs, solve engineering challenges, and ensure projects are delivered to a high standard. This role requires the successful candidate to maintain a strong focus on design work as part of a small team.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of bespoke machinery, components, and engineering systems.
• Collaborate with the Head of Projects & Operational Planning to manage schedules and maintain internal engineering controls that support and mentor the design team.
• Take ownership of projects from initial concept through to manufacture, installation, and commissioning.
• Produce and review detailed engineering drawings, layouts, and design documentation using 3D CAD.
• Focus on mechanical design, pneumatics, and rotary systems.
• Develop practical, cost-effective design solutions to meet customer and project requirements.
• Work closely with manufacturing and production teams to ensure designs are suitable for manufacture and assembly.
• Provide technical guidance and support to other Design Engineers within the team.
• Identify and resolve design and engineering issues throughout the project lifecycle.
• Liaise with customers, suppliers, and internal teams as required.
• Support installation and commissioning activities, offering engineering input and resolving issues on-site and remotely.
• Help improve design processes, standards, and workflows across the engineering function.
• Conduct design work aimed at improving capacity.

What's Required

This role, based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, will necessitate outside of normal working hours evening support via video call one to two times per month, along with some weekend installation support on average once a month. Hours can be flexible to accommodate required support. On-site measure-up visits across the UK, Europe, and ROW areas will be necessary, averaging 8-12 visits. Some travel may require overnight stays.

The Ideal Candidate

• Senior Mechanical Design Engineer looking to step into, or already operating at, a Lead Design Engineer/Design Manager level.
• Time-served, apprenticeship-trained, or degree/HNC/HND qualified in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Strong experience designing bespoke machinery, equipment, or complex mechanical systems.
• Proven experience in a fast-paced design and manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to take engineering projects from concept to manufacture.
• Strong understanding of mechanical engineering principles and manufacturing processes.
• Experience integrating electrical/electronic systems into mechanical designs is advantageous.
• Experience working with carbon fibre or composite materials is desirable.
• Previous experience leading, mentoring, or supporting other engineers.
• Confidence in managing multiple projects and competing priorities.
• Strong problem-solving skills with a practical, hands-on approach.
• Experience using Autodesk Inventor is essential.

What's on Offer

• Salary of £50,000 - £60,000, depending on experience.
• Opportunity to take a lead role within an established and growing engineering team.
• Varied and technically interesting bespoke engineering projects.
• The opportunity to have genuine input into the design and development of new machinery and solutions.
• A role offering both hands-on design responsibility and technical leadership.
• Standard working hours are 08:00 - 17:00 Monday - Thursday, and 08:00 - 14:30 Friday.
• Hours can flex to support installations and measure-ups.
• Must share responsibility for covering Friday shifts until 17:00 once monthly.

Apply online using the form below. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.