Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

The Company Central Employment are partnering with a leading engineering organisation to recruit a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a highly skilled team delivering advanced RF and microwave products, supporting projects from concept through to volume production. The business operates at the forefront of high-frequency technology, with strong in-house engineering capability and a diverse product range spanning telecommunications, aerospace, defence and space applications. The Role This is a senior-level position responsible for delivering end-to-end mechanical design solutions across complex RF systems, modules and amplifiers. You will take technical ownership of projects, ensuring designs meet performance, thermal, reliability, manufacturability and cost requirements. You will play a key role in leading the design of lightweight, robust and thermally efficient assemblies for demanding and high-reliability environments, while also providing technical guidance and mentoring to junior engineers. Key Responsibilities Mechanical Design and Development Lead the design of precision mechanical components and assemblies for RF systems, including enclosures, heatsinks, liquid cooling solutions and waveguide structures Develop modular designs for integration into larger systems, considering space, mass, interfaces and maintainability Ensure designs meet mechanical, thermal and environmental requirements such as vibration, shock and EMI shielding Produce and review detailed 3D CAD models and engineering drawings using SolidWorks Select appropriate materials, finishes and manufacturing processes Provide input into product architecture, design trade-offs and risk mitigation Thermal and Structural Analysis Lead or support thermal analysis using CFD and heat transfer modelling Carry out FEA for vibration, fatigue and structural performance Validate simulation results through testing and analysis Use data-driven insights to optimise and improve design performance RF-Focused Mechanical Engineering Work closely with RF, electronics and systems teams to ensure mechanical designs support optimal RF performance Design for waveguides, PCB integration, precision alignment and surface finish requirements Support concept development and participate in design reviews Manufacturing and Production Support Drive design for manufacture, assembly and cost efficiency Create and review BOMs, GD&T drawings and technical documentation Support View email address on click.appcast.io builds, first article inspections and continuous improvement initiatives Collaborate with suppliers and internal teams to resolve technical and production challenges Support engineering change processes (ECN/ECO) Prototyping and Testing Oversee View email address on click.appcast.io builds and development testing Support environmental and reliability testing including vibration and thermal cycling Assist in the development of tooling, jigs and fixtures Capture and implement lessons learned to improve future designs Requirements Skills and Experience Degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent Proven experience in a senior mechanical design role within RF, electronics, aerospace, defence or other high-reliability sectors Strong CAD capability, ideally with SolidWorks Experience designing precision components and assemblies in demanding environments Understanding of PCB integration, EMI/EMC and RF shielding principles Solid knowledge of materials and manufacturing processes, including CNC machining Strong understanding of GD&T and engineering drawing standards Experience with PDM/PLM systems and change control processes Ability to lead technical discussions and work across multidisciplinary teams Experience mentoring or supporting junior engineers Desirable Experience Experience within aerospace, space or telecoms environments Hands‑on experience with FEA and thermal simulation tools Exposure to RF/mmWave technologies and products Knowledge of high‑reliability standards such as MIL‑STD or ECSS Experience with environmental and qualification testing Awareness of compliance standards including RoHS and WEEE #J-18808-Ljbffr Central Employment Agency (North East) Ltd.