Lead Design Engineer

We are currently supporting an international engineering organisation looking to appoint an experienced Design Lead Engineer to its team in Recklinghausen.

This is a hands-on engineering position combining mechanical design with responsibility for leading and coordinating design activities across complex industrial projects . You will work closely with mechanical and structural engineers, project teams and international engineering partners, taking projects from initial design through to detailed manufacturing documentation.

The role offers a roughly 50/50 split between hands-on design work and project/design coordination , making it well suited to an experienced engineer who wants to retain a strong technical focus while taking greater ownership of engineering projects.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead and coordinate design activities across industrial engineering projects
• Create and develop 3D mechanical designs using Autodesk Inventor
• Prepare assembly drawings and detailed manufacturing drawings
• Design steel casings, welded steel structures and related industrial equipment
• Prepare Bills of Materials (BOMs) and material take-offs
• Coordinate internal teams and external international engineering resources
• Work closely with Project Engineers, Project Managers and other technical disciplines
• Provide technical support to procurement and commercial teams
• Ensure designs meet project specifications, applicable standards and project deadlines
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of engineering workflows and technical standards
• Report directly to the Head of Engineering

Your Background

• Degree or equivalent technical qualification in Mechanical Engineering, Design Engineering or a related discipline
• 5+ years of relevant engineering/design experience
• Experience within industrial plant engineering, steel plants, heavy industrial equipment or comparable environments
• Strong experience with steel casings and/or fabricated and welded steel structures
• Strong 3D CAD/design capabilities, ideally including Autodesk Inventor
• Experience preparing detailed drawings, BOMs and manufacturing documentation
• Experience coordinating engineering activities and taking technical ownership of projects
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Fluent German and English
• Able to work from the Recklinghausen office three days per week

What You Can Expect

• Permanent employment with an established international engineering organisation
• 30 days annual leave
• 13th salary payment
• Additional holiday allowance
• Hybrid working model with three days per week in the office
• Reimbursement for business travel
• International project exposure
• A role combining hands-on engineering with responsibility for leading and coordinating design projects