Lead Design Engineer

Salary/Rate:£45,000 - £53,000
Job type:Permanent
Town/City:Blackburn
County:Lancashire
Engineering Discipline:Design Engineers
Sector:Special Purpose Machinery Manufacturing
Job ref:SW0101
Post Date:April 4, 2026
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Meet Our Recruiter

About the Role

Lead Design Engineer

Location: Blackburn
Sector: Capital Equipment / Special Purpose Machinery
Pay: £45,000 - £55,000 (DOE) + Benefits

A newly created role with real impact

This is not a replacement hire.

The Lead Design Engineer position has been created as a direct result of increased workload and continued business growth.

With the Engineering Director currently overseeing both strategic direction and day-to-day design activities, there is now a need for someone to step in and take ownership of project delivery, ensuring designs are executed efficiently, to a high standard, and on time.

This role sits between the Engineering Director and the Design Team, playing a key part in how projects are delivered moving forward.

The role

This is a hands-on leadership position.  You’ll remain technically involved in design work, while also acting as the focal point for the Design Team on live projects.

Key areas include:

  • Provide direction, coordination, and support to ensure the team delivers
  • Leading design activity across multiple projects
  • Supporting and guiding Design Engineers on technical delivery
  • Acting as the link between Engineering Director and Design Team
  • Ensuring designs are completed to specification, on time, and within scope
  • Maintaining design standards and consistency across projects
  • Contributing to continuous improvement in design processes and workflows

What they’re looking for

  • Strong background in capital equipment / special purpose machinery design
  • Proven experience in a senior design engineer or lead design role
  • Ability to balance hands-on design work with team coordination
  • Comfortable working in a fast-paced, project-driven environment
  • Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and practical design

Why this role stands out

Newly created position with scope to shape it
Clear progression pathway as the business continues to grow 
Strong order book and long-term project pipeline 
Opportunity to influence how design projects are delivered 

Interested?

If you’re currently operating at Senior Design Engineer level and stepping into a leadership role, or already leading design projects and looking for a role with more influence, this is worth a conversation.

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