Purpose of the job
Working as part of your cross functional team you will transform visualized retail concepts into manufacturing ready drawings, ensuring design concepts are converted into functional and high quality production ready units on time and within budget. You will be the design champion for your team’s projects, owning the design and making it your responsibility to deliver it to the best quality possible.
As design engineer, you will possess extensive knowledge of manufacturing materials, processes, and costs, and ideally you will demonstrate experience of global manufacture. You will be required, when necessary, to work directly with clients which may include project briefings and presentations. You will be responsible for checking prototypes and factory first-off production units, presenting them to clients as appropriate to advance the project.
You are responsible for meeting deadlines, working with your colleagues to design retail solutions that can be manufactured to client expectations. You will need to manage your own time effectively and communicate clearly with your team members to ensure all is on track.
Key responsibilities
Working with the conceptual designer to realize the chosen design
Take approved visuals/concepts and produce 3D models and manufacturing drawings using SolidWorks
Sketch solutions to assembly/manufacturing challenges or for estimation purposes
Ensure projects are designed to budget, actively looking for and promoting cost-saving opportunities during the design development
Work closely with technical buyers to develop the appropriate combination of design and supplier, ensuring that designs meet the manufacturing capabilities of the supply base. Be conscious of varying regional supply capabilities and designing for the right market
Manage the build and completion of your prototypes, ensuring the unit is presented to the client to the highest quality and on time
Visit factories as needed to verify display unit construction, specifications, and quality
Create project documentation that adheres to company defined processes - detailed parts lists, QC reports, risk assessments and assembly guides
Ensure designs are fit for purpose, adhering to any client requirements or health & safety needs. Conduct testing if required
Manage your time and projects to meet agreed deadlines
Maintain excellent communication across all departments ensuring all relevant project information is circulated to all parties
Be highly motivated and bring good interpersonal skills to benefit your team during pressured situations
Knowledge, skills + experience
Degree or similar level qualification in product design engineering or related discipline
Experience of working in POP / POSM retail fixture design industry
Working understanding and experience in designing for manufacture in: Metal (sheet, wire tubular fabrication, welding, and finishing) | Plastic (sheet fabrication, vacuum forming, injection moulding, extrusion) | Wood (fabrication and finishing)
Design development and project process awareness
Experienced user of 3D parametric CAD (SolidWorks preferred) plus M365
A good communicator, able to get ideas across and manage expectations
Good sketching ability
Good time management, working in an organised fashion
Positive approach to problem solving / lateral thinking
Very good attention to detail
Very good interpersonal skills - works well in a team environment and confident in front of clients
Essential criteria
Experience of working in POP / POSM retail fixture design industry
Working understanding and experience in designing for manufacture in metal, plastic or wood
Experienced user of 3D parametric CAD (SolidWorks preferred) plus M365