Role

The Senior Mechanical Engineer will lead the Design and Build team, responsible for translating technical requirements into credible engineering solutions. The role covers engineering
design, analysis and modelling, experimental rig and prototype development, manufacture, commissioning and operation. Alongside leading and developing the business area, the postholder will provide technical delivery and help turn customer needs and market opportunities into high-quality engineering outputs.

Salary - From £60,000 per annum depending on experience

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Design and Build team, including line management, resource planning, recruitment and team development.

• Own and develop the business area’s capability in line with company strategy and priorities.

• Work with engineering and commercial colleagues to align technical capability with customer and market needs.

• Identify and develop new opportunities, including translating customer requirements into technical value propositions and supporting bid development.

• Prioritise incoming work and coordinate cross-team requests, balancing strategic value, delivery requirements and available capacity.

• Act as Project Lead or Technical Governance Manager where appropriate.

• Design and develop complex engineering systems, prototypes and experimental or validation rigs for nuclear and non-nuclear applications.

• Produce and substantiate detailed designs and engineering drawings in accordance with recognised codes, standards and specifications.

• Work with manufacturers and subcontractors to procure high-quality components and assemblies.

• Ensure environmental, health and safety considerations are addressed throughout the engineering process

Qualifications & experience

Ideally, you will have some of these:

• Bachelor’s (or higher) degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.

• Engineering Chartership through a UK Engineering Council accredited institute, or international equivalent.

• Experience in engineering research, technology and development.

• Proficiency in a range of engineering software for modelling and simulation of designs.

• Strong understanding of materials, manufacturing, and mechanical systems.

• Demonstrable expertise in the design, manufacture, and operation of complex process engineering systems, consistently delivering high-quality outputs in accordance with recognised industrial standards

• Demonstrable team leadership experience

• Expertise in subcontractor management through contractual and engineering specification application

Additional experience that would strengthen your application includes:

• Commercially aware, with experience supporting business development activities, preparing winning bids and proposals, responding to tenders, and engaging with clients and partners.   

• Experience in more than one type of engineering organisation (such as engineering consultancy, national laboratory, university research environment, VC-funded technology company, start-up or scale-up, EPC contractor, OEM, system integrator, manufacturing organisation, owner-operator, regulated infrastructure organisation or major programme delivery organisation)

• Experience in more than one industrial sector

• Experience in commercialisation of engineering research outputs

Eligibility

The candidate must have the right to work in the UK.

Our benefits

• 28 days annual leave

• Company bonus scheme

• Flexible working around core hours

• Company pension scheme

• Cycle to work scheme

• Enhanced parental pay

• Inclusion in the Business Health Scheme

• Assist and support chartership progression with the appropriate body.

Additional Information

Underrepresented people are less likely to apply for roles if they do not meet 100% of the job requirements. We are actively seeking these kinds of applicants and believe in hiring people not checklists. If you are interested but unsure if your experience aligns, please get in touch with our recruitment team (careers@oxfordsigma.com) to discuss if this role or others we are developing may match you as a person.

Apply

We’d love to understand more about you, and why you want to get involved in fusion.

Submit your CV and covering letter (both in PDF format) below

Applications will be reviewed fortnightly, until the position is filled, or until 17:00 BST 19th October 2026 – whichever comes first.