Engineer the Quantum RevolutionYour expertise can help us shape the future of quantum computing at Oxford Ionics.

View Open Roles

Mechanical Design Engineer

Earley
1 month ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Mechanical Design Engineer

Mechanical Design Engineer

Mechanical Design Engineer

Mechanical Design Engineer

Mechanical Design Engineer

Principal Mechanical Design Engineer - Medical Devices

Job Title: Mechanical Engineer – Automation & Product Design
Location: Reading
Salary: Circa £50,000 + Benefits
Employment Type: Full-Time | Permanent

Are you a Mechanical Engineer passionate about automation, robotics, and designing real-world systems that make a tangible impact? I’m working with a growing tech company developing next-generation production technology that’s helping revolutionise sustainable agriculture.

This is a hands-on, design-focused role where you’ll contribute to the scale-up of precision automation systems for high-throughput manufacturing. You’ll join a small, agile engineering team tackling novel mechanical design challenges — everything from intricate material handling to seamless integration with electronics and software.

What You’ll Be Doing:



Design and develop automation components and mechanisms for handling high-volume small objects

*

Integrate mechanical systems with multidisciplinary teams across software, electronics, and controls

*

Rapidly prototype, test, iterate and improve hardware solutions in a live production setting

*

Troubleshoot and optimise existing systems to ensure performance, uptime, and ease of assembly

*

Help refine design processes, tools, and methodologies in a fast-paced start-up environment

What We’re Looking For:

*

Degree-qualified in Mechanical Engineering (or related field)

*

3+ years' experience in mechanical design within automation, robotics, or mechatronics

*

Skilled in SolidWorks (or similar CAD), with a strong grasp of DFM and GD&T

*

Proven ability to design for production and tight tolerances

*

Practical experience working with prototyping tools and workshop equipment

*

Comfortable working hands-on, thinking creatively, and solving novel design problems

Desirable (Not Essential):

*

Experience with stepper/servo motors, precision mechanisms, or small-part automation

*

Familiarity with 3D printing, CNC, and manufacturing methods like injection moulding

*

Worked in industries with high hygiene or regulatory standards (e.g., medical, food, cosmetics)

*

Background in low-power automated systems like animatronics, vending machines, or lab devices

*

Exposure to control panels, basic electronics, or cross-functional integration work

Why Apply?

*

Salary circa £50,000 + benefits

*

Work on mission-driven, sustainable technology

*

Join a small, passionate team building production systems from the ground up

*

Real impact: your designs will go from CAD to real-world deployment in weeks

*

Creative environment with high autonomy, responsibility, and technical variety

Location: Reading (commutable from Oxford, Basingstoke, Newbury, Swindon, Maidenhead)
Salary: £50,000 + benefits
Career Path: Pathway to Senior Engineer roles and project leadership within a fast-growing start-up

If this sounds like something you'd like to explore, please apply with your CV or get in touch for more information

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.

Pre-Employment Checks for Robotics Jobs: DBS, References & Right-to-Work and more Explained

The robotics industry represents one of the most dynamic and transformative sectors in modern technology, with robotics professionals playing crucial roles in advancing automation capabilities, developing intelligent systems, and reshaping manufacturing, healthcare, service industries, and defence applications. As robotics evolves from industrial automation to autonomous systems and human-robot collaboration, pre-employment screening processes have become increasingly sophisticated and multifaceted. Robotics careers span diverse environments from manufacturing facilities and aerospace companies to healthcare robotics providers, autonomous vehicle developers, and emerging service robotics startups. Each sector brings unique screening requirements reflecting the safety-critical nature of robotic systems, the interdisciplinary complexity of robotics development, and the critical importance of maintaining both operational safety and system reliability standards. Understanding robotics pre-employment screening helps professionals navigate career opportunities effectively whilst enabling employers to identify candidates capable of contributing to robotics innovation whilst maintaining appropriate safety standards, regulatory compliance, and technical excellence. The screening processes examine not only technical robotics competencies but also safety awareness, system integration capabilities, and ability to work effectively across the multidisciplinary robotics ecosystem. This comprehensive guide examines the full spectrum of pre-employment screening practices across robotics careers, from basic right-to-work verification through enhanced safety clearance processes, technical competency assessment, and industry-specific requirements. Whether pursuing opportunities in industrial automation, autonomous systems development, medical robotics, or robotics research leadership, understanding these screening processes enables robotics professionals to prepare effectively and advance their careers successfully. The robotics sector's unique combination of mechanical engineering, software development, artificial intelligence, and human-machine interaction creates screening requirements that reflect both the technical demands of robotics innovation and the safety considerations of human-robot collaboration. These processes ultimately support the continued advancement of robotics by ensuring high professional standards and technical competence necessary for safe robotics deployment and responsible robotics technology development.

Why Now Is the Perfect Time to Launch Your Career in Robotics: The UK's Autonomous Systems Revolution

The United Kingdom stands at the epicentre of a robotics revolution that's fundamentally transforming how we manufacture products, deliver services, and interact with technology in our daily lives. From the autonomous delivery robots navigating London's streets to the surgical robots advancing precision medicine in Birmingham hospitals, Britain's leadership in robotics innovation has created an unprecedented demand for skilled robotics professionals that dramatically exceeds the current talent supply. If you've been seeking a career that combines cutting-edge engineering with tangible real-world impact or looking to position yourself in one of the most dynamic and rapidly expanding sectors of the modern economy, robotics represents an extraordinary opportunity. The convergence of artificial intelligence advancement, sensor technology maturation, manufacturing automation acceleration, and service robotics adoption has created perfect conditions for robotics career success.

Automate Your Robotics Jobs Search: Using ChatGPT, RSS & Alerts to Save Hours Each Week

Robotics roles land across industrial automation, warehouse/AMR, agri/field robotics, medical devices, drones/UAV, defence, logistics, research labs and humanoids—often hidden in ATS portals or duplicated across job boards. The smartest way to keep up isn’t more scrolling; it’s automation. With keyword-rich alerts, RSS feeds and a reusable ChatGPT workflow, you can bring relevant roles to you, triage them in minutes, and tailor strong applications without burning your evenings. This copy-paste playbook is for www.roboticsjobs.co.uk readers. It’s UK-centric, practical, and built to save you hours every week. What You’ll Have Working In 30 Minutes A role & keyword map spanning Perception, Manipulation, Planning & Control, SLAM/Navigation, ROS/ROS 2 & Middleware, Mechatronics/Embedded, Safety/Functional Safety, Simulation/Digital Twins, AMR/AGV/Industrial Automation, UAVs and Cloud/Fleet Ops. Shareable Boolean searches to paste into Google and job boards that strip out noise. Always-on alerts & RSS feeds that deliver fresh UK roles to your inbox/reader. A ChatGPT “Robotics Job Scout” prompt that deduplicates, scores fit and outputs ready-to-paste actions. A simple pipeline tracker so deadlines and follow-ups never slip.