Mechanical Engineer

Overview

Expleo is seeking an experienced Mechanical Engineer to support the design, development, integration and assurance of complex Ships Lifting and Handling Systems, including Launch and Recovery Systems (LARS), mission handling equipment and associated mechanical systems across commercial and defence maritime programmes.

Working as part of multidisciplinary engineering teams, the successful candidate will provide mechanical engineering expertise throughout the system lifecycle, from requirements definition and detailed design through to manufacture, commissioning, testing and in-service support. The role offers the opportunity to work on technically challenging projects involving the integration of mechanical, hydraulic, electrical and control systems within demanding marine environments.

This is an opportunity to be deployed with one of our existing clients on a full-time basis for 6+ months. The role offers hybrid working arrangement with the need for occasional to frequent travel to Portsmouth/Southampton as required.

Responsibilities

• Engineering:
  • Develop and maintain system requirements, specifications and functional descriptions.
  • Define operating modes, design load cases and system performance requirements.
  • Manage technical interfaces between mechanical, hydraulic, electrical and control system disciplines.
  • Review engineering designs to ensure compliance with functional, operational and safety requirements.
  • Demonstrate compliance through engineering analysis, modelling and simulation.
  • Produce technical reports and verification evidence.
  • Review design changes and assess their impact on system performance.
  • Ensure engineering solutions satisfy customer requirements, project specifications and applicable industry standards.
  • Provide engineering input to technical risk management and issue resolution.
• Design:
  • Develop detailed mechanical designs from defined system requirements.
  • Produce high-quality 3D CAD models, manufacturing drawings and engineering documentation.
  • Undertake tolerance analysis and material selection.
  • Specify mechanical components and assemblies suitable for marine environments.
  • Support design for manufacture, assembly and maintainability.
  • Produce engineering calculations and supporting design justification.

Qualifications

Essential:

• Degree / HNC / HND qualified in a relevant STEM discipline (e.g., Mechanical Engineering, Marine Engineering, Marine Technology, Naval Engineering), or equivalent experience in the naval and commercial ship design, construction, or maintenance domain.

Desirable:

• Professional member of a relevant engineering institution (e.g., RINA, IMarEST, IMechE, IET)
• Recognised as an Incorporated or Chartered Engineer by the UK Engineering Council (or an ability to achieve within 24 months)

Essential skills

• Strong understanding of mechanical design principles and engineering analysis.
• Working knowledge of mechanical, hydraulic and electro-mechanical systems.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, technical documentation and customer requirements.
• Knowledge of applicable standards and Classification Society requirements.
• Strong communication, technical writing and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to operate independently within a client environment.
• Demonstrates professionalism and integrity.
• Applies sound engineering judgement in complex situations.
• Builds productive relationships across multidisciplinary teams.
• Maintains a strong focus on safety, quality and delivery.
• Proactively identifies issues and drives timely resolution.
• Works independently while contributing positively to the wider project team.

Experience

This opportunity would suit an experienced Mechanical Engineer with a strong background in marine lifting and handling systems who enjoys solving technically challenging engineering problems across the full system lifecycle. The successful candidate will combine excellent mechanical design capability with practical systems engineering knowledge, enabling them to work confidently across multidisciplinary teams and deliver robust engineering solutions for complex maritime platforms. It would be advantageous for the candidate to have experience of one or more of the following:

• Royal Navy, Royal Fleet Auxiliary or Merchant Navy Platform experience.
• Ships Lifting and Handling Systems.
• Launch and Recovery Systems.
• Commercial shipbuilding or vessel conversion programmes.
• Winches, cranes, A-frames, davits or mission bay systems.
• Significant experience designing complex mechanical systems within the maritime sector.
• Experience of Ships Lifting and Handling Systems, LARS, cranes, davits or similar mission equipment.
• Experience producing detailed engineering documentation and manufacturing drawings.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary engineering teams.

What do I need before I apply

• The post will be based in an environment regulated by Trade Control legislation and involve working with controlled goods, technology and/or services.
• We are interested in engaging with all candidates with the necessary experience; however, it should be noted that this role requires the successful candidate to hold, or eligible to obtain, valid Security Check (SC) clearance.
• This is an opportunity to be deployed with one of our existing clients on a full-time basis for 6+ months. The role offers hybrid working arrangement with the need for occasional to frequent travel to Portsmouth/Southampton as required.

Benefits

• Collaborative working environment – we stand shoulder to shoulder with our clients and our peers through good times and challenges 
• We empower all passionate technology loving professionals by allowing them to expand their skills and take part in inspiring projects  
• Expleo Academy - enables you to acquire and develop the right skills by delivering a suite of accredited training courses 
• Competitive company benefits
• Always working as one team, our people are not afraid to think big and challenge the status quo 

• As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we have committed to:
• Ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible
• Communicating and promoting vacancies
• Offering an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job
• Anticipating and providing reasonable adjustments as required
• Supporting any existing employee who acquires a disability or long term health condition, enabling them to stay in work at least one activity that will make a difference for disabled people

“We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age”.

We treat everyone fairly and equitably across the organisation, including providing any additional support and adjustments needed for everyone to thrive