Mechanical Design Engineer

Design Engineer (Mechanical & Civils)

£45,000–£55,000 | Permanent

Location: Dartford

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Design Engineer (Mechanical & Civils) to support projects within the water, utilities, and construction sectors across North East London.

This is a permanent PAYE role offering long-term career progression within a stable and growing engineering environment.

What’s on Offer

• Salary: £45,000–£55,000

• Permanent PAYE role

• Laptop & mobile phone

• Company pension

• Life insurance (up to 4x salary)

• 33 days holiday (increasing with service)

• Mental health & wellbeing support

• Enhanced paternity & maternity leave

• Clear career progression pathway

• Supportive and flexible working environment

Role Overview

As a Design Engineer, you will be responsible for delivering practical, buildable design solutions from concept through to fabrication and installation.

This role requires a strong understanding of fabrication detailing, steelwork design, and constructability, ensuring that all designs are not only technically correct but also feasible to manufacture, transport, and install on-site.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and interpret P&ID (Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams) to support plant and system layouts

• Produce 2D and 3D CAD designs (AutoCAD / AutoCAD LT or similar) for fabrication and construction

• Create detailed fabrication drawings, including assemblies, sections, and material specifications

• Design structural and mechanical components such as:

o Walkways, platforms, staircases, and handrails

o Pipe supports, frames, and steel structures

• Ensure designs consider manufacturability, including:

o Cutting methods and material usage

o Welded vs single-piece fabrication

o Bolting, fixings, gaskets, and ancillary components

• Assess transport and installation constraints, breaking designs into modular sections where required and defining assembly methodology

• Select appropriate materials (e.g. mild steel, galvanised steel, stainless steel, aluminium) based on environment and application

• Collaborate with project managers, site teams, and clients to resolve design challenges

• Produce material take-offs (MTOs) and supporting documentation

• Carry out design checks to ensure compliance with:

o British Standards

o Eurocodes

o Client/asset-specific standards

• Continuously improve design efficiency, quality, and standardisation

Requirements

• Proven experience in a design engineering role within construction, water, or heavy industry

• Strong proficiency in AutoCAD (2D/3D) or similar CAD tools

• Experience producing fabrication-ready drawings (not just concept design)

• Solid understanding of:

o Steelwork (beams, columns, connections)

o Fabrication processes and constraints

o Material selection for different environments

• Familiarity with P&IDs and plant layouts

• Knowledge of British Standards and Eurocodes (or ability to apply them in design work)

• Ability to design with practical installation and assembly in mind

• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail

• Good communication and ability to justify design decisions