Senior Mechanical Engineer

Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.

Senior Mechanical Engineer
Location: based in Belfast, minimum 3 days/ week in office (hybrid), with <10% domestic travel
Other: permanent, full-time

Join Thales in Belfast and play a pivotal role in designing next-generation defence technologies that protect people, assets and nations around the world.

What the role has to offer

• Work on mission-critical defence programmes - apply your expertise to complex Weapon System, Missile and Platform products that deliver real-world impact in national and international defence

• Shape innovation in a growing engineering team - take ownership of challenging mechanical design projects, influence technical decisions and help drive engineering excellence during an exciting period of business growth

• Enjoy flexibility and industry-leading benefits - benefit from hybrid working, a half day every Friday, performance bonus, private healthcare, enhanced pension and a strong commitment to employee wellbeing and development

Our Opportunity

We are seeking a talented Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to join our growing Mechanical Design team. In this role, you will apply engineering first principles to develop innovative and robust solutions across a diverse portfolio of Weapon System, Missile and Platform products, working closely with cross-functional stakeholders to deliver designs that meet demanding customer and business requirements. As we continue to grow, we're looking for an engineer with proven experience in mechanical design, strong proficiency in Creo and/or CATIA, and expertise in GD&T, BS 8888, PLM systems, Design for Manufacture (DfM), BOM management and engineering change control. You will combine technical excellence with strong analytical and problem-solving skills to deliver high-quality, cost-effective engineering solutions throughout the product lifecycle.

The successful candidate will be degree qualified in Mechanical Engineering (or a related discipline) or possess equivalent industry experience, with a track record of delivering complex projects in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment. Highly organised and committed to engineering excellence, you will play a key role in driving quality, innovation and successful project delivery.
Building a Future, we can all trust.

Integrated Airspace Protection Systems (IAS) - our main purpose is to protect and defend. We provide rapid integrated solutions for detection, coordination, fire control, engagement and support. We cover three sectors: Surface Attack & Air Defence (UK), Air Defence (International) and Air Operations & Services as well as Space.
 

What we offer you

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package designed to support our employees’ wellbeing and professional growth, which includes:

• Performance-related bonus

• Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 13:00

• 28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) with opportunity to buy up to 40 hours/year (pro rata)

• 24 hours volunteering paid for

• Private healthcare

• Pension scheme

• Life cover

• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app

• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers

• Gym membership discounts

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

• Lead the development of mechanical design solutions across the product lifecycle, applying engineering first principles, best practice methodologies and CAE tools to deliver robust, high-quality designs

• Define and analyse mechanical requirements, conducting simulations, modelling, prototyping, testing and feasibility assessments to ensure solutions meet technical and customer needs

• Produce and maintain design documentation, including specifications, engineering drawings, BOMs, design data packs and configuration-controlled records to support manufacturing and product lifecycle management

• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders, including Engineering, Production and Procurement, to develop cost-effective, manufacturable and fit-for-purpose design solutions

• Plan, coordinate and monitor engineering activities, tracking technical progress, risks, costs, schedules and milestones to support successful project delivery

• Provide technical leadership and decision-making, evaluating and justifying design approaches, resolving complex engineering challenges and contributing to design reviews, verification and validation activities

• Drive continuous improvement and engineering excellence, supporting engineering change processes, maintaining compliance with quality and performance standards, and championing improvements in design processes and outputs

About You
At Thales, we are committed to equal opportunities and welcome all talented individuals to consider joining our team. So even if you don't match every statement below but feel you have some of the experience, knowledge or skills needed for this role, we encourage you to apply. It will take all of us working together to deliver solutions to the world’s most critical challenges.

• Acquired a degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline or possess equivalent industry experience

• Proven experience using CAD software for mechanical design, with strong proficiency in Creo and/or CATIA

• Demonstrated ability to produce detailed engineering drawings, including the application of GD&T and adherence to BS 8888 standards

• Acquired experience working with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems, particularly Windchill or equivalent platforms

• Proven understanding and practical application of Design for Manufacture (DfM) principles to deliver efficient and cost-effective design solutions

• Demonstrated experience creating and managing Bills of Materials (BOMs) and supporting engineering change processes, with a clear understanding of configuration control and change impact management

• Proven knowledge of relevant international standards and their application throughout the product design and development lifecycle

• Demonstrated proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook

• Proven analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary engineering team

If you're a talented Mechanical Engineer looking to make an impact on cutting-edge defence programmes while advancing your career with a global technology leader, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today and help build a future we can all trust!

Security Clearance Requirement:

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions.  This role requires Security Clearance (SC). It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. 

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years.  In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels.

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At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.

If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. Join the Talent Community here.

Join Thales in the UK – Innovate with us and shape the future!