Lead Design Engineer

Lead Engineer

Salary: £45,000 – £55,000 per year

Location: Bristol / South West

Company: Bennett Engineering

Bennett Engineering is looking for a capable and hands\-on Lead Engineer to take technical ownership of our design and engineering function.

This is a senior engineering role, reporting directly to the General Manager. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading the technical design process, developing new products, improving existing products, supporting production, and ensuring our engineering work is accurate, practical, compliant, and commercially effective.

This is not a role managing a team of engineers. Instead, we are looking for someone who can take responsibility for the engineering output of the business, work independently, make sound technical decisions, and help drive the company forward.

About the Role

The Lead Engineer will be responsible for the design, development, validation, and continuous improvement of Bennett Engineering products, including agricultural and industrial mechanical equipment.

The role will involve working closely with production, quality, purchasing, suppliers, customers, and senior management to ensure products are designed correctly, manufactured efficiently, and supported properly throughout their lifecycle.

A strong working knowledge of SolidWorks is essential. Experience with FEA is important. Experience with Fusion 360 would be advantageous, but is not necessary.

Key Responsibilities

Take technical ownership of engineering design work across the business.

Report directly to the General Manager.

Design and develop new mechanical products and product improvements.

Produce accurate 3D models, assemblies, and 2D manufacturing drawings.

Carry out FEA and engineering calculations where required.

Support production with technical queries, build issues, and design improvements.

Work with quality and production teams to resolve engineering\-related problems.

Review existing designs for manufacturability, strength, cost, and reliability.

Support product testing, validation, and compliance requirements.

Liaise with suppliers and customers on technical matters.

Maintain accurate engineering records, drawings, revisions, and documentation.

Help standardise and improve engineering processes within the company.

Ensure designs are practical, safe, cost\-effective, and suitable for manufacture.

Skills and Experience Required

Strong mechanical engineering background.

Proven experience in mechanical design, ideally within agricultural, automotive, construction, hydraulic, or heavy equipment sectors.

Strong SolidWorks experience.

Good understanding of FEA and structural analysis.

Ability to produce high\-quality manufacturing drawings.

Practical understanding of fabrication, machining, welding, hydraulics, and assembly.

Ability to work independently and take ownership of technical decisions.

Strong problem\-solving skills.

Good communication skills with production teams, suppliers, and customers.

Commercial awareness and an understanding of cost\-effective design.

High attention to detail.

Desirable Experience

Experience with Fusion 360\.

Experience with hydraulic systems.

Experience with agricultural machinery or mechanical handling equipment.

Knowledge of compliance, testing, type approval, or product validation.

Experience improving legacy designs and production processes.

Familiarity with ERP systems or engineering change control processes.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone who is technically strong, practical, reliable, and capable of becoming the key engineering authority within the business.

The right person will be confident working independently, able to make well\-reasoned engineering decisions, and comfortable working closely with production and senior management.

This role would suit an experienced Design Engineer, Senior Design Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, or Project Engineer who is ready to take ownership of engineering output within a growing manufacturing business.

What We Offer

Salary of £45,000 – £55,000, depending on experience.

Senior technical role with direct access to decision\-makers.

Opportunity to shape engineering standards and product development.

Varied work across design, production support, testing, and improvement projects.

Long\-term opportunity within an established British engineering company.

No agencies, please.

Pay

Benefits:

• Company pension


• Cycle to work scheme


• Free parking


• On\-site parking

• Bristol BS37 6QH: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

• English (required)

• Bristol BS37 6QH (preferred)

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