Manufacturing Design Engineer

Senior Lecturer in Advanced Manufacturing and dotted line responsibility to a Company Supervisor

Location

We Seal Ltd, Airedale House, Carlton Business Park, Leeds, LS19 7BD

Onsite
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location.

We have one simple promise - to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 - making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

Here at University of Derby, the College of Science and Engineering is the home of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths: the STEM skills that are essential to the UK's Industrial Strategy. From digitisation to decarbonisation, we have an important role to play in shaping the future. And by researching or collaborating with us, you can too.

Engineering at Derby has a bold vision to deliver an outstanding learning experience to our students, further develop and expand our research capacity and increase our industry engagement in the region and beyond to fulfil targets for Research Excellence Framework (REF) and Knowledge Excellence Framework (KEF) as well as provide the best opportunities to our graduates. The discipline area is located in the University's STEM annex in Markeaton Street, where staff offices and lab facilities are co-located. Key investments in the last few years include dedicated intelligent instrumentation and smart sensor technologies, robotics, renewable energy, power engineering and advanced materials and manufacturing. The discipline area is actively engaged in knowledge exchange projects and has an active applied research agenda.

About We Seal Ltd

We Seal Ltd is a rapidly developing business specialising in manufacturing bag sealing tapes and innovative sealing machines. We design, engineer, manage installations and maintenance of our equipment, providing end-to-end expertise. More information about We Seal Ltd can be found in the attached document.

University of Derby's College of Science & Engineering in partnership with We Seal Ltd are offering an exciting career-development opportunity to manage and deliver a challenging strategic Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project. Based at We Seal Ltd's premises in Leeds, you will be employed by the University as a KTP Associate but work under the terms and conditions of the company.

You will be responsible for the development and launch of a new and innovative manufacturing solution, allowing We Seal to accelerate its expansion into global markets. Using your knowledge and skills to support the business and achieve specific project aims, you will receive on-going support from a We Seal Ltd Supervisor, Academic Supervisor and Academic Lead from the University of Derby to Derby to help you deliver. A personal training and development budget will also be available for you to access, as well as receiving access to the same training opportunities and facilities as University staff.

This is a dynamic role that presents an opportunity for an ambitious candidate to play an influential role in supporting the design and launch of a new sealing machine that will enable the uptake of a significantly improved sustainable sealing solution, delivering environmental impact on a global scale beyond anything currently available on the market.

About Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

This full-time post is part-funded by the UK Government's KTP programme. A KTP is a three-way project between a graduate, an organisation and a university. KTP is one of the UK's largest graduate recruitment programmes and has been placing graduates on challenging, high profile projects for almost 45 years. In addition to a competitive salary and core KTP development training, you will have a dedicated budget of £4,500 for further training and career development. To find out more about the scheme visit:ktp-uk.org/graduates

Anticipated interview date:Wednesday 24th October 2025

The ideal candidate will have expertise in lean and sustainable design, automation and control (including programming), and knowledge of the application of Internet of Things (IoT) in manufacturing. You will hold a good honours degree (achieving at least a 2:1 or equivalent) in a relevant discipline such as Mechanical Engineering and have demonstrable experience with CAD design software, such as SolidWorks, alongside a sound understanding of engineering design techniques.

Strong awareness of project management methods to ensure successful delivery of the project, the ability to apply academic research and analysis, and experience in logic-based programming are essential. The role also requires pragmatic and creative problem-solving skills, with the ability to think innovatively and respond effectively to challenges.

• To lead the development of the KTP project, including: The design, test and launch of a new and innovative manufacturing solution; and Implement a range of performance improvements and efficiency gains in how the machine is manufactured and maintained an adaptable information / performance evaluation system.
• To work with the academic team to disseminate the outcome and research developed as part of the development process .
• To work with We Seal Ltd and academic team to integrate the project into a business platform, for machine maintenance and continuous improvement, in support of the company's future plan.
• To carry out work in a professional manner and engage in tasks and training as required by the We Seal Ltd, University of Derby, and Innovate UK.
• Good honours degree (achieving at least a 2:1 or equivalent) in a related subjectsuch as Mechanical Engineering

Experience

• Demonstrable experience of CAD design techniques and software such as SolidWorks
• Demonstrable experience in managing complex technical projects
• Experience of working with a range of stakeholders from diverse sectors and background

Skills, knowledge & abilities

• Ability to demonstrate logic-based computer programming
• Sound knowledge of engineering design techniques, including a high level of knowledge in lean and sustainable design
• Knowledge of automation and control including programming
• Demonstrable knowledge of materials and manufacturing optimisation techniques, such as Design for Manufacture and Assembly(DfMA)
• Knowledge of Internet of Things (IoT) application in manufacturing
• Innovative and ready to make an instant impact within the organisation
• Awareness of project management techniques to ensure the successful delivery of the project
• Highly organised, excellent time management and organisational skills, attention to detail and ability to work to strict deadlines
• Excellent communication skills including writing reports, making presentations and dealing with customers
• Exhibit research and analysis methods at an academic level
• Ability to work to deadlines
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Willingness to engage and influence at all levels of an organisation
• Ability to communicate complex and conceptual ideas to a range of audiences
• Self-motivated, completer - finisher
• Be results focused with the ability to work through issues to resolve in a professional manner
• Ability to demonstrate pragmatic, and creative thinking where challenges occur
• Ability to communicate and collaborate consistently with colleagues

Business Requirements

• Willingness to work flexibly and be responsive to projects needs and partners expectations
• Willingness to travel between project sites across the UK and internationally
• Understanding of workplace values in line with We Seal Values

Qualifications

• Masters degree or PhD in a relevant subject, or equivalent industrial experience

Experience

• Proven experience of using SolidWorks in a commercial setting
• Demonstrable experience of applying Lean and Sustainable Design Solutions
• Practical experience with DFMA.

Skills, knowledge and abilities

• Skills in PLC programming or programming in Java/equivalent
• Proven experience leading teams in a manufacturing environment

Whilst you will be employed by University of Derby, your terms and conditions will be that of We Seal Ltd.

Being based at We Seal, you will also benefit from working in a very rewarding job in a family-owned business with a great culture. We Seal also offer 2 days per annum for volunteering work and the opportunity to enter the company's Charity Donation Contribution Scheme.

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Todor Dobrev, Senior Lecturer in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering via
. click apply for full job details