Design Engineer – Jigs & Fixtures / Process Development

Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire
Salary: £39,000 – £42,000 per annum

The Opportunity

Nicholas Associates are delighted to be working in partnership with a leading global manufacturer who are looking to recruit an experienced Design Engineer – Jigs & Fixtures / Process Development to join their growing engineering team at their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Barnsley.

This is an excellent opportunity for a mechanically biased Design Engineer with experience in jig and fixture design, manufacturing processes and CAD to play a key role in supporting and improving production capabilities.

The Role

As Design Engineer, you will be responsible for developing, designing and maintaining jigs, fixtures and bespoke manufacturing equipment, ensuring they meet production requirements, quality standards and operational targets.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Lead the design, development, manufacture and implementation of new jigs and fixtures across assigned production areas.
• Manage projects from initial concept through to design, manufacture, commissioning, validation and production handover.
• Develop and maintain 3D models, 2D engineering drawings, bills of materials (BOMs), user manuals and associated technical documentation.
• Ensure all jigs and fixtures are designed to deliver accuracy, repeatability, robustness and cost-effectiveness.
• Work closely with manufacturing and production teams to identify opportunities for process improvements, increased efficiency and automation.
• Liaise with product design engineers to recommend component design changes that improve manufacturability, fixture compatibility and automation potential.
• Support the introduction of new and improved manufacturing processes, working with internal teams and external suppliers.
• Establish and maintain calibration, inspection and preventative maintenance procedures for jigs and fixtures.
• Ensure all designs and engineering changes comply with company standards and engineering control procedures.
• Monitor project progress, ensuring delivery against agreed timescales, budgets and quality requirements.
• Maintain detailed records of jig and fixture designs, modifications, improvement proposals and validation activities.

The Ideal Candidate

We are keen to speak with Design Engineers who have a strong mechanical engineering background and practical experience in jig and fixture design within a manufacturing environment.

You will ideally have:

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent; HND-qualified candidates will also be considered.
• Proven experience in mechanical design, with a particular focus on jigs, fixtures and manufacturing equipment.
• Strong 3D and 2D CAD skills (CREO experience advantageous, although equivalent packages will be considered).
• Experience designing equipment and tooling for fabrication or manufacturing environments.
• Good understanding of design for manufacture (DFM) and continuous improvement principles.
• Experience working with a range of manufacturing processes, including:
  • Laser, plasma and waterjet cutting.
  • Pressing and cold forming.
  • CNC milling and turning.
  • EDM and surface/cylindrical grinding.
  • Automated and manual welding.
  • Fabrication and assembly.
• Experience supporting automated, semi-automated and manual production processes.
• Strong project management, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A proactive, hands-on approach with the ability to work collaboratively across engineering and production teams.

Salary & Benefits

• Salary: £39,000 – £42,000 per annum.
• Annual bonus (recent average approximately £500).
• 25 days annual leave, increasing with service up to 30 days, plus bank holidays.
• 5% contributory pension scheme.
• Healthcare benefits scheme covering dental, optical and other services.
• Life insurance / death in service benefit.
• Retail discounts.
• Cycle-to-work scheme.
• Free on-site parking.
• Subsidised on-site refreshments and lunch options.
• Employee referral programme.

Working Hours

• Monday – Thursday: 7:30am – 4:30pm.
• Friday: 7:30am – 1:30pm.