Senior Design Engineer

Southampton
2 days ago
Create job alert

Senior Design Engineer – Composites / Mechanical
Location: Southampton
Permanent, Full Time
Salary: £55,000 - £65,000

An established design and manufacturing team is seeking an experienced Senior Design Engineer to join their Design Office. Reporting to the Design Office Manager, the successful candidate will lead project-based designs across a broad spectrum of disciplines, collaborating with external design teams and clients, and delivering the complete technical design for new build projects with support from other team members.

Role & Responsibilities

Lead project-based design, managing semi-production and custom superyacht tender projects from concept to delivery.

Produce detailed manufacturing 3D models and drawings for in-house and subcontract tooling, composite, and fabrication facilities, working closely with manufacturing teams to maintain a design-for-production approach.

Deliver original design input in the development of vessels, including tooling, composite, and mechanical systems.

Incorporate small craft system elements into master 3D models in collaboration with the Engineering Department.

Create and maintain design-led bills of materials for each project.

Research new equipment, materials, systems, and design solutions to support development projects.

Work closely with the shop floor to optimize production-led solutions and capture as-built information.

Engage specialist skills from other design team members, and mentor and develop junior members of the team.

Required Experience & Skills

Minimum 8 years’ experience in a marine engineering design role, ideally within the luxury yacht sector, with a BEng / MEng qualification, and preferably some practical operational or manufacturing experience. A portfolio of previous work is advantageous.

Highly proficient in 3D parametric CAD and Rhinoceros software, with additional 2D AutoCAD competency.

Proficient in standard business software such as MS Word, Excel, and Outlook.

High-level knowledge of small power craft construction and design.

Focused and productive, with excellent accuracy and attention to detail.

Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with colleagues, external suppliers, shipyards, and clients.

Experience in carrying out structural calculations for fabricated items and composite engineering, including lift points, covering both initial structural analysis and production engineering.

Knowledge of the superyacht industry and operational requirements of yacht tenders.

Desirable Experience & Skills

Ability to hand sketch and 3D model new tender concepts that reflect the style and detailing of a mothership. A supporting portfolio of previous work is highly desirable.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to technically challenging and high-quality projects within a collaborative and design-led environment. Interested candidates are invited to apply by submitting an up-to-date CV.

Marine Resources Recruitment Ltd acts as an employment agency for permanent and fixed term contract recruitment and as a recruitment business for the supply of contract workers. Please note that by applying for this job you accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy which can be found on our website

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Senior Electrical Design Engineer

Senior Structural Design Engineer

Mechanical Design Engineer

Senior Structural Engineer

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

Neurodiversity in Materials Science Careers: Turning Different Thinking into a Superpower

Materials science is everywhere – in batteries, semiconductors, medical implants, composites for aircraft, sustainable packaging & more. It’s a field built on curiosity, experimentation, precision & the ability to link microscopic structure to real-world performance. In other words, it’s a brilliant match for many neurodivergent brains. If you’re living with ADHD, autism or dyslexia, you may have been told that your brain is “too distracted”, “too literal” or “too chaotic” for a scientific career. In reality, many of the traits that made school or traditional office work difficult can be serious assets in materials science & engineering. This guide is written for UK job seekers exploring materials science careers. We’ll look at: What neurodiversity means in a materials science context How ADHD, autism & dyslexia strengths map to materials roles Practical workplace adjustments you can ask for under UK law How to talk about your neurodivergence in applications & interviews By the end, you’ll have a clearer sense of where you might thrive in materials science – & how to turn “different thinking” into a genuine superpower.

Materials Science Hiring Trends 2026: What to Watch Out For (For Job Seekers & Recruiters)

As we move into 2026, the materials science jobs market in the UK is becoming more strategic and more selective. Advanced manufacturing, batteries, hydrogen, semiconductors, fusion, net-zero infrastructure and sustainable textiles all depend on advanced materials – and the UK has made these areas a national priority. Business Growth Service +1 At the same time, funding cycles are bumpy, some legacy plants are struggling with energy costs and global competition, and employers are under pressure to hit both climate and productivity targets. That means fewer “nice-to-have” R&D roles and more focus on materials science positions that clearly support growth, decarbonisation and resilience. Whether you are a materials science job seeker planning your next move, or a recruiter building teams in advanced manufacturing, this guide breaks down the key materials science hiring trends for 2026.

Materials Science Recruitment Trends 2025 (UK): What Job Seekers Need To Know About Today’s Hiring Process

Summary: UK materials science hiring has shifted from title‑led CV screens to capability‑driven assessments that emphasise characterisation with clear conclusions, scale‑up to pilot/production, standards compliance (ASTM/ISO/IATF/AS9100), sustainability/ESG, data literacy & measurable product or yield improvements. This guide explains what’s changed, what to expect in interviews & how to prepare—especially for battery/materials engineers, polymer/composites specialists, metallurgists, ceramics/glass scientists, surface/thin‑film engineers, failure analysts, process/quality engineers & materials informatics roles. Who this is for: Materials scientists & engineers (metals, polymers, ceramics, composites, semiconductors, thin films, coatings), process/scale‑up & manufacturing engineers, CMC in materials for life sciences, QA/QC, failure analysis, test & characterisation, sustainability/LCAs, and materials informatics/data roles in the UK.