Senior Mechanical Design Engineer – Special Purpose Machinery Dewsbury, West Yorkshire | Permanent Bespoke Machinery | Robotics | Industrial Automation If you enjoy designing machinery from a blank sheet of paper and seeing it through to a working machine, this is worth a look. I'm recruiting for an established, independent engineering business in Wakefield that designs and builds bespoke automation and special purpose machinery for the automotive, food manufacturing and wider industrial sectors. The engineering is varied and often technically demanding. Previous projects have included robotic handling and de-moulding systems, high-pressure waterjet cutting, high-speed food production machinery, automated assembly equipment and vision-guided robotics. With mechanical and electrical design, controls engineering, machining, fabrication and assembly capabilities in-house, engineers can follow their designs right through to build, testing and commissioning. The role As a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer, you'll take responsibility for the mechanical design and development of bespoke automated machinery, working from initial concepts through to detailed design and manufacture. You'll be involved in: * Developing mechanical concepts and 3D designs for special purpose machinery and automated systems * Designing mechanisms, tooling, handling equipment, conveyors and robotic integration systems * Producing detailed manufacturing drawings, assemblies and bills of materials * Working closely with electrical, controls and manufacturing engineers to develop complete machines * Solving practical engineering problems during manufacture, assembly and testing * Supporting machinery risk assessments, technical documentation and commissioning * Managing the technical delivery of your designs, including customer requirements, timescales and costs What we're looking for You'll already have experience designing special purpose machinery, industrial automation or complex mechanical equipment. Ideally, you'll bring: * Strong 3D CAD skills, preferably Autodesk Inventor, although other packages will be considered * Experience developing machinery from concept through to manufacture * A good understanding of mechanical mechanisms, drives, motion systems, pneumatics and manufacturing processes * The ability to produce practical, buildable designs rather than just CAD models * Confidence working with manufacturing teams and resolving engineering challenges Experience with robotics, servo systems, machine vision or automated production equipment would be useful, but isn't essential. A mechanical engineering degree is welcome, although relevant industry experience is equally important. Why consider it? The attraction here is the engineering itself. You'll work on a wide variety of machinery, with the opportunity to develop ideas, solve challenging mechanical problems and see the finished equipment operating. The business has the resources to design and build complete systems in-house, but is small enough for experienced engineers to have a genuine influence on how projects are developed and delivered. It's particularly well suited to someone who enjoys the practical side of engineering and wants to remain closely involved throughout the machinery lifecycle. If you've designed bespoke machinery or automated equipment and would like to hear more, please get in touch. I'm happy to have an initial confidential conversation before you decide whether to apply. Cressida Consulting is acting as recruitment partner for this vacancy. Candidate information will be handled in accordance with our privacy policy and UK GDPR requirements