Lead Mechanical Design Engineer

ALTEN is a global engineering and technology consultancy operating across over 35 countries worldwide. We partner with industry leaders across sectors including Aeronautics, Aerospace, Defence, Naval, Automotive, Energy, Rail, IT and many more to deliver innovative engineering solutions that drive technological advancement & support sustainable transformation.

Our teams of passionate and agile engineers work on cutting-edge projects that shape the future of technology and sustainability. At ALTEN, we empower talented engineers to innovate, solve complex challenges, and deliver impactful solutions that build tomorrow’s world—today.

Join us and start building tomorrow’s world today!

As a Lead Mechanical Design Engineer, you will join our team to support our activities within the Aerospace & Defence sector.

You will play a key role in delivering robust mechanical design solutions across R&D and R&T programmes, ensuring products are technically sound, manufacturable, and aligned with both customer and business requirements. This position sits within a multi-disciplinary engineering environment, supporting the development of complex, high-integrity systems.

• Location: Luton
• On Site: On site
• Clearance: Clearable
• Experience Level: Senior

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the development of robust mechanical design solutions for R&D / R&T programmes
• Provide technical oversight and approval of design outputs from Product Engineers
• Support and contribute to design reviews alongside senior and principal engineering teams
• Take ownership of Engineering Work Packages relating to mechanical design delivery
• Provide technical supervision to a small, multi-disciplinary team across engineering functions
• Interface with Stress & Thermal, Supply Chain, Industrialisation, V&V, Configuration, and Quality teams
• Ensure delivery of solutions aligned to Design to Cost and Design for Manufacture & Assembly (DfM/DfA) principles

Required Skills:

• Strong background in mechanical design within aerospace or defence environments
• Experience delivering R&D or R&T engineering projects
• Proven ability to review, approve, and validate engineering designs
• Experience leading or supporting multi-disciplinary engineering teams
• Strong understanding of DfM, DfA, and cost-driven design approaches
• Familiarity with safety-critical or high-integrity systems

Required Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, or equivalent military experience.
• Extensive experience in mechanical design engineering within complex engineering environments
• Demonstrated experience in technical leadership or work package ownership

Desirable Skills:

• Experience working with major aerospace or defence OEMs or tier 1 suppliers
• Exposure to product lifecycle management and configuration control processes
• Understanding of validation & verification (V&V) methodologies
• Experience supporting industrialisation and manufacturing readiness activities

Why join us? 

We bring together entrepreneurial, tech-driven people to deliver innovative solutions for leading companies.

At ALTEN, you’ll work on exciting projects, supported by ongoing learning, mentoring, and clear career development tailored to your goals.

Join a passionate team and help build tomorrow, today.

In short you get: 

• A personalised career path and a rewarding management style 
• A huge diversity of engineering projects and industries
• Private Medical Insurance
• Cycle & Tech Scheme 
• Employee assistance programme
• Life insurance & Pension Scheme
• Social atmosphere, regular gatherings & team buildings
• Flexible way of working (role dependent)

We are proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant & actively encourage applications from members of the Armed Forces community, including veterans, reservists, service leavers, and military spouses/partners. We recognise the value of military skills and experience and are committed to ensuring that no applicant is unfairly disadvantaged during our recruitment and selection processes. 

ALTEN is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and values the strength that comes from a global mix of backgrounds and perspectives. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of background or protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know. 

This role may require you to have or be willing to go through Security Clearance. As part of the onboarding process candidates will be asked to complete a Baseline Personnel Security Standard; details of the evidence required to apply may be found on the government website Gov.UK. If you are unable to meet this and any associated criteria, then your employment may be delayed, or rejected . Details of this will be discussed with you at interview.