Mechanical Design Engineer - Automotive Plastics - Birmingham, West Midlands

Mechanical Design Engineer - Automotive Plastics

£40-£60k + Benefits

Birmingham

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MDE have a truly exciting role for a Mechanical Design Engineer who is seeking to progress their career in to a leadership role where you will be leading the engineering design and development of automotive interior/exterior trim. This role will ensure the delivery of robust component and assembly designs, capable of meeting and exceeding our internal and external customer requirements.

Role summary:

• Lead the design, development and delivery of assigned automotive projects, according to customer requirements and specifications.
• Lead internal and external meetings from a design perspective and provide technical knowledge and direction, as required, in support of project objectives.
• Liaise with and manage the output of CAD and CAE Teams, ensuring a regular review and file-up cadence in accordance to project milestones and agreements.
• Identify component and system level design issues, advising solutions and proactive resolutions throughout the design phase.
• Manage project deliverables and report status in line with internal and external gateways and timing requirements.
• Generate concept designs and proposals to support the initial design process and continued development including, as required, the generation of supporting CAD models.
• Manage the delivery of 3D CAD and 2D drawings to industry and company drafting standards, including datum strategy development and GD&T annotation.
• Manage CAD file transfers and releases to internal and external customers ensuring all modelling and system attributes are completed.

• Support cross-functional problem resolution throughout the design and production phases.
• Support benchmarking activities to improve component and assembly design as part of lessons learnt and R&D initiatives.
• Ensure compliance to internal and external design rules and regulatory standards.
• Write technical reports and presentations to communicate design related issue and solutions.

• Work alongside in-house Tooling Engineers to identify and design-out issues prior to tool manufacture.
• Liaise with Suppliers directly to ensure that all external requirements are understood and captured in the component/assembly design.
• Generation of technical and quality documentation, including DFMEA, to support NPI and Customer processes.
• Support production issues and design changes, as required, working closely with plant manufacturing teams to correctly root cause issues and advise/proceed with the correct permanent corrective action.

Skills required:

• Minimum of 3 years industry experience leading the delivery of automotive projects from a technical perspective, ideally working for a major OEM or Tier 1 Supplier.
• A practical knowledge of CATIA V5 is essential (knowledge of 3DEXPERIENCE/CATIA V6 would be beneficial but is not essential to the role as training can be provided).
• Industry experience of drawing and modelling best practices as well as design theory.
• Materials awareness, with an emphasis on automotive grade and high-performance plastics would be a distinct advantage, although training can be provided in this area for the right candidate.
• Previous experience of injection moulded component design and knowledge to design plastic parts with manufacture, assembly and cost in mind.
• General understanding of automotive components, systems and subsystems would be an advantage.
• Understanding of virtual development and validation techniques preferred, in order to analyse, interpret and implement simulation results and recommendations from our in-house Engineers and external suppliers.
• Industry experience of programme delivery, customer milestones and time-management essential.
• A good practical knowledge of injection moulding and automation processes and appreciation of tool design.
• A sound understanding of Moldflow design principles and how they can be applied practically to improve and optimise component design.
• Experience of GD&T (General dimensioning and tolerances) and latest ISO drawing standards.

• The ability to manage multiple concurrent projects, be flexible and prioritise workload accordingly.
• Experience, in the automotive industry, of practical hands on troubleshooting would be a distinct advantage to the role, although not essential as training/development can be provided.
• Ability to work as part of a team and self-directed working essential.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills to a range of internal and external audiences.
• Good Microsoft Office skills and attention to detail when writing technical reports and presentations.
• Positive and proactive attitude with an emphasis on continuous improvement.

The role is based in Birmingham, however, some occasional travel to manufacturing plants and customer facilities will be required. The role offers excellent opportunities for development and career progression in a dynamic and evolving company.

Please note all applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK