Product Design Engineer

Product Design Engineer

Haydock

£40,000 - £65,000

We're working with a well-established, privately owned manufacturer of thermoformed plastic food packaging, supplying a select portfolio of UK and global food customers.

It offers the opportunity to take ownership of product design and tooling within a busy, growing SME environment.

The Role

• Design and develop thermoformed plastic packaging products
• Create detailed 3D models and 2D drawings using SolidWorks (or similar)
• Apply key thermoforming principles (draft angles, shrinkage, de-nest features etc.)
• Support and manage in-house tooling manufacture
• Programme and optimise CNC/CAM processes (advantageous)
• Work directly with customers to translate requirements into manufacturable designs
• Collaborate closely with Directors, Production and Engineering teams
• Support continuous improvement across tooling, materials and efficiency
• Products are designed, tooled and manufactured on-site in Haydock before being shipped globally.

What We're Looking For

• Strong 3D CAD capability (SolidWorks essential)
• Experience within thermoforming, plastics or packaging manufacturing
• Practical understanding of tooling and manufacturing processes
• CNC/CAM programming experience desirable
• Comfortable working directly with customers
• Suited to a fast-paced, hands-on SME environment
• Food packaging experience is advantageous but not essential if you have strong thermoforming/plastics exposure.

The Opportunity

• Direct reporting line to the Directors
• Real influence over NPD and tooling direction
• Flat structure, quick decision-making
• 40-hour week (Mon-Fri)
• Paid overtime
• 30 days holiday incl. bank holidays
• Salary £40,000 - £65,000 depending on experience