Principal Mechanical Design Engineer

Principal Mechanical Design Engineer
Location: West Sussex
Type: Permanent

The Opportunity
A well-established engineering consultancy based in West Sussex is seeking a Principal Mechanical Design Engineer to provide technical leadership across complex, high-value engineering programmes.
This is a senior, hands-on role for an experienced engineer who enjoys shaping technical strategy, leading design decisions, and ensuring engineering excellence from concept through to delivery. You will act as a technical authority within the business, working closely with clients, suppliers, and internal teams across regulated and high-performance sectors.
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The Role
As a Principal Mechanical Design Engineer, you will take ownership of technical direction and delivery across multiple programmes, providing leadership, mentorship, and expert engineering judgement.
Key responsibilities include:
•    Acting as technical lead on major, complex, or innovative engineering projects from concept definition through to delivery
•    Setting design direction and technical strategy for project teams
•    Providing expert oversight of CAD models, drawings, tolerance analysis, and technical documentation
•    Leading formal design reviews, challenging assumptions and ensuring robust engineering solutions
•    Representing the business in senior-level technical discussions with clients, suppliers, and partners
•    Owning project delivery outcomes, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards
•    Supporting and mentoring engineers, setting the standard for engineering best practice and technical excellence
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About You
Skills & Experience
•    Degree in Mechanical Engineering (2:1 or above) or equivalent qualification; relevant industry experience will be considered
•    8+ years’ mechanical design experience within sectors such as automotive, aerospace, or defence
•    Expert knowledge of mechanisms, materials, GD&T, and manufacturing processes
•    Strong understanding of the full engineering lifecycle, including requirements definition, DFMEA, verification, and testing
•    Proven ability to guide multidisciplinary teams using engineering first principles
•    Expert proficiency in 3D CAD modelling (CATIA V5 preferred); experience defining CAD standards or methodologies is advantageous
•    Experience delivering multiple projects concurrently while maintaining technical oversight
Personal Attributes
•    Technically authoritative, with the ability to make calm, confident decisions under pressure
•    Strong leadership, coaching, and stakeholder management skills
•    Proactive, solutions-focused, and delivery-driven
•    Passion for innovation, continuous improvement, and setting high engineering standards
•    Clear and assured communicator at all levels
•    Strong commitment to deadlines and customer satisfaction
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