Position: Product Designer (R&D)
Location: South West England (On-site)
Salary Range: £34,000 - £42,000 per annum
Job Type: Permanent
Category: Product Design / Research & Development

Role Overview

A well-established UK manufacturer is seeking a Product Designer to join its dynamic Research & Development team. You'll play a key role in designing new products and enhancing existing ones—supporting innovation from concept through to production.

This is a hands-on, technical role involving collaboration across engineering, production, and external partners. You'll contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, represent the department in cross-functional meetings, and ensure high standards in both design quality and cost-effectiveness.

Key Responsibilities

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Deliver high-quality design and engineering input across product development projects within your area of expertise.

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Create detailed CAD designs and engineering drawings for both new products and improvements to existing lines.

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Drive continuous improvement within the R&D team—organisationally and technically.

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Represent the department in internal and external meetings, advocating for best practices and company interests.

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Ensure new processes, methodologies, and practices are implemented effectively and positively.

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Maintain a focus on accuracy, cost control, and error reduction throughout the design process.

About You

You should be a capable and motivated designer with a passion for engineering excellence and cross-functional collaboration. Ideal candidates will bring:

Essential Skills & Experience

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Industry experience in a similar design or manufacturing environment.

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Degree or equivalent qualification in product design, industrial design, mechanical engineering, or a related field.

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Strong CAD modelling skills, including knowledge of document control systems.

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Understanding of mechanical loads, forces, and component interaction within assemblies.

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End-to-end product development experience—from concept generation to production launch.

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Experience in modifying existing components or systems.

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Practical knowledge of manufacturing techniques such as:

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Plastic injection moulding

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Sheet metal fabrication

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Rotational moulding

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Proficient in creating detailed engineering drawings and design documentation.

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Experience designing for both low-cost, high-volume manufacture and low-volume, high-value production.

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Manual prototyping/modelmaking abilities to build proof-of-principle prototypes.

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Comfortable working across departments and liaising with external suppliers.

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Key attributes: creativity, teamwork, communication, attention to detail.

Desirable Skills

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Basic stress analysis knowledge

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Computer-Aided Styling (CAS) or surface modelling expertise