Lead Electrical Design Engineer

Lead Electrical Design Engineer

Location: Southampton

Salary: £60-65k + Benefits + £5k Relocation if needed

The Role

We are seeking a highly capable Lead Electrical Design Engineer to join a dynamic, multidisciplinary engineering team delivering innovative, bespoke industrial equipment to a global customer base.

Reporting to the Head of Engineering, you will act as the technical authority for all electrical and electronic aspects of projects. You’ll collaborate across disciplines to define system architectures, requirements, and specifications, ensuring solutions are safe, compliant, and technically robust.

The Company

A specialist engineering organisation based in Southampton, delivering bespoke industrial solutions to a global market. The company focuses on high-value, technically challenging projects involving electrical control systems, and integrated mechanical material handling solutions.

Projects typically range from £50k to £500k+, with delivery timelines spanning 3–12 months, covering the full lifecycle from concept to commissioning.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, manufacture, and support of advanced industrial electro-mechanical equipment.

• Coordinate electrical engineering activities, delivering projects on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.

• Own the electrical design lifecycle from concept through to verification and release.

• Contribute to system-level design decisions and cross-functional trade-offs.

• Approve and sign off electrical design documentation and outputs.

• Drive innovation and continuous improvement, troubleshooting and optimising existing designs while exploring new technologies.

• Develop strong technical knowledge to support customer and stakeholder engagement.

Technical Skills & Experience

• Strong background in electrical and electronic systems engineering, including power conversion, transformers, switches, converters, and SMPS.

• Experience in system architecture and requirements definition.

• Knowledge of industrial automation, control systems, and industrial software.

• Understanding of thermal management and material considerations in industrial equipment.

Desirable:

• Control panel design (PLC, HMI, SCADA) and programming

• Pneumatic or hydraulic systems

• Experience mentoring or leading a small team of engineers

• Chartered Engineer status (or working towards)

Compliance, Safety & Standards

• Lead or contribute to CE marking activities

• Interpret and apply relevant standards (e.g. Low Voltage Directive, EMC)

• Ensure robust design reviews, safety compliance, and documentation

Project & Commercial Involvement

• Provide technical input to new business proposals, including risk assessment

• Collaborate closely with engineering teams to ensure integrated product delivery

• Support commissioning, testing, and troubleshooting of new equipment

Candidate Profile

• Degree-qualified (or equivalent) in Electrical Engineering

• Proven experience in industrial or process-based equipment design

• Strong problem-solving skills with a hands-on, project-driven mindset

• Able to operate as a technical leader within a collaborative environment

The Opportunity

This is a rare opportunity to take on a high-impact technical leadership role within a specialised engineering environment. You’ll influence product direction, safety, and long-term engineering capability while working on complex, custom-built solutions for a global client base.

If you’re ready to lead cutting-edge electrical design projects and make a tangible impact, we’d love to hear from you