AVAILABLE POSITIONS

About Us: At Autoguide Equipment Ltd, we design and manufacture specialist machinery for the agricultural, construction and utilities sectors. We combine practical engineering expertise with innovative design to develop reliable machinery and bespoke engineering solutions for our customers. Position Overview: We are looking for an experienced Senior Design Engineer (Mechanical & Hydraulic) to join our design team. This role is responsible for designing, developing and delivering complex mechanical and hydraulic systems from initial concept through to production. The successful candidate will take ownership of engineering projects, make key technical decisions and provide technical leadership across new product development, prototype validation and manufacturing support. The role will involve working with minimal supervision while supporting and mentoring junior engineers, apprentices and placement students. Key Responsibilities: • Design complete mechanical and hydraulic systems for Autoguide products, including welded fabrications, machined components and complete hydraulic circuits. • Interpret customer requirements and technical specifications and develop practical engineering solutions within agreed cost and performance parameters. • Produce accurate 3D CAD models, manufacturing drawings, assembly drawings and Bills of Materials, considering functionality, safety and manufacturability. • Carry out engineering calculations covering structural loading, stress considerations, material selection and manufacturability. • Apply Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFMA) principles throughout the design process. • Develop hydraulic circuits for torqueheads, Auto Rollers, screw pile equipment and bespoke utility machinery. • Carry out pressure, flow, force and power calculations to validate hydraulic system performance. • Specify hydraulic components including cylinders, motors, valves, pumps, hoses and fittings. • Optimise hydraulic systems for efficiency, reliability and cost. • Support prototype manufacture and build, resolving design and assembly issues as they arise. • Plan and carry out testing to validate product performance, durability and safety. • Test and calibrate torqueheads, produce calibration certificates and maintain accurate records. • Investigate manufacturing and field issues, identify root causes and implement robust engineering solutions. • Raise and manage Engineering Change Requests (ECRs) and Engineering Change Orders (ECOs). • Liaise with suppliers regarding technical specifications, component selection and product improvements. • Work closely with Production, Purchasing, Technical Sales, Service and Project Management to ensure successful product delivery. • Manage project priorities, technical risks, validation activities and delivery milestones. • Review engineering drawings, Bills of Materials and technical documentation produced by others. • Support and mentor junior engineers, apprentices and placement students. • Drive standardisation of components, engineering documentation and design practices. • Maintain accurate engineering records, Bills of Materials and routing information within Odoo. • Ensure designs comply with relevant legislation, machinery safety requirements, UKCA requirements and company engineering standards. • Support compliance with ISO 9001 and internal quality systems. Qualifications: • Proven experience as a Design Engineer, ideally within off-highway, mobile machinery, lifting equipment or bespoke machinery. • Advanced 3D CAD capability, ideally using Autodesk Inventor. • Strong experience in hydraulic circuit design and hydraulic system calculations. • Experience designing welded fabrications and machined components. • Knowledge of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) and manufacturing drawings. • Experience managing Bills of Materials within an ERP system, ideally Odoo. • Strong root cause investigation and prototype development experience. • Working knowledge of Machinery Regulations and UKCA requirements. • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with sound practical engineering judgement. • Good understanding of manufacturing processes and practical engineering. • Commercial awareness and an understanding of engineering cost implications. • Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to meet deadlines. • Confident working with minimal supervision and taking ownership of technical decisions. • Strong communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with both technical and commercial teams. • Ability to lead, mentor and support junior team members. • Flexible, adaptable and proactive, with the ability to use initiative. Desirable, but not essential: • Experience with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and structural calculations. • Knowledge of electrical integration and CANbus systems. • Experience working with off-highway, mobile or lifting equipment. • Formal project management experience. What We Offer: • The opportunity to take ownership of complex engineering projects from concept through to production. • The opportunity to work across mechanical engineering, hydraulic systems, prototype development and bespoke machinery. • A role with significant technical responsibility and the opportunity to provide leadership and mentoring within the engineering team. • Opportunities to develop technical authority, project leadership and advanced hydraulic system design skills. • The opportunity to contribute to innovation, cost reduction and product improvement across the business. • A clear progression pathway from P2 to P3, typically over 24–36 months, based on demonstrated technical authority, project leadership, advanced hydraulic design, mentoring and commercial awareness. How to Apply: If you are an experienced Design Engineer looking for an opportunity to take ownership of complex mechanical and hydraulic engineering projects and contribute to the development of specialist machinery, we would love to hear from you by submitting the form at the bottom of this page.