Job Title: Contract Mechanical Design Engineer

Duration: 3-month rolling contract, starting immediately
Location: Onsite near Oxford (5 days per week), with potential for hybrid working after three months
Hours: 40 hours per week
Compensation: LTD or Umbrella payment

Role Overview:

We are seeking an experienced Mechanical Design Engineer to join our team and work on advanced, high-precision engineering projects in laser micromachining and materials processing. You will play a critical role in designing components for state-of-the-art manufacturing systems, which include optics-integrated pathways, ultra-precise mounts, modular assemblies, and vacuum systems. This role requires a focus on precision engineering in compact packaging, where interchangeability and rigorous tolerance standards are essential.

Our primary applications support sectors like electronics and photovoltaics, involving extremely thin substrates (down to 0.1mm) and high-stability platforms.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design high-precision components and assemblies using Autodesk Inventor, ensuring optimal integration with linear drive stages, granite machine beds, vacuum chucks, and other precision elements.
• Develop and refine designs for optical paths and related equipment that require meticulous tolerance control and small packaging constraints.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to meet project specifications, focusing on mechanical stability, alignment precision, and component interchangeability.
• Evaluate and troubleshoot existing designs to enhance performance, reduce error margins, and streamline manufacturing processes.
• Ensure designs adhere to strict quality standards relevant to high-precision engineering applications.

Key Requirements:

• Proficiency in Autodesk Inventor is essential, with the ability to manage complex assemblies and create detailed technical drawings.
• Proven experience working in high-precision engineering environments, ideally with a focus on small-scale, high-tolerance machinery and systems.
• Strong understanding of materials and component interactions within optics-integrated and laser micromachining equipment.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing granite-based machine beds, linear drive stages, in-chuck camera systems, vacuum chucks, and other equipment where sub-millimeter tolerances are critical.
• Familiarity with high-precision mechanical standards in industries such as electronics, photovoltaic manufacturing, or precision optics is highly desirable.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience in environments requiring ultra-high tolerance design principles, with an emphasis on compact packaging and modular system design.
• Background in working with vacuum systems and handling delicate substrates (0.1mm or thinner) within complex equipment.

Benefits:

• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge projects with industry-leading technology in a highly specialized field.
• Onsite near Oxford with potential for flexible working after three months.
• Competitive LTD or Umbrella payment struct