Mechanical Design Engineering Recruitment
CADagency specialises in recruiting CAD and design professionals for mechanical design engineering roles across manufacturing, product development and engineering-led environments. We work with consultancies, OEMs and in-house engineering teams across the UK, supplying designers who can take products from concept through to manufacture.
Mechanical design roles often sit at the centre of engineering teams, requiring a strong balance of technical accuracy, problem solving and practical understanding of manufacturing processes. We recruit for businesses operating across sectors such as automotive, aerospace, industrial equipment and consumer products.
By taking time to understand product complexity, production methods and software environment, we ensure candidates are aligned on both technical capability and delivery expectations.
Roles We Recruit For Within Mechanical Design Engineering
We regularly recruit across a range of mechanical design-focused roles, including:
Mechanical Design Engineers
Designers responsible for concept development, detailed design and engineering documentation.
CAD Engineers and Technicians
Professionals producing manufacturing drawings, assemblies and BOMs.
Senior Mechanical Designers
Engineers leading complex design work, mentoring junior staff and supporting project delivery.
Design Managers and Lead Engineers
Professionals overseeing design standards, workflows and technical decision making.
Most mechanical design candidates we place work primarily in SolidWorks or Autodesk Inventor, often alongside additional simulation or manufacturing support tools.
Software Usage: SolidWorks and Inventor
Software capability has a clear impact on salary within mechanical design engineering.
Mechanical designers using SolidWorks reported an average salary of £47,300
Mechanical designers using Autodesk Inventor reported an average salary of £45,800
Candidates using either platform tend to sit in more product-led environments, with exposure to assemblies, manufacturing constraints and design for production.
Training also plays a role. Mechanical designers who reported receiving job-related CAD training scored higher on job satisfaction and were less likely to be actively considering a job move.
2026 Mechanical Design Engineering Salary Insight
Based on data from the CADagency 2026 Employment Survey, average UK salaries for mechanical design roles are as follows:
Junior Mechanical Design Engineers: £32,600
Intermediate Mechanical Design Engineers: £41,900
Senior Mechanical Design Engineers: £51,400
Mechanical Design Managers / Lead Engineers: £60,800
Salary progression is closely linked to product complexity, responsibility and exposure to full lifecycle design rather than job title alone.
London and the South East continue to offer the highest salaries overall, particularly for senior and management-level roles. However, strong regional engineering hubs such as the Midlands, North West and Scotland continue to support competitive salaries, particularly at intermediate and senior level.
Mechanical Design Market Trends
Mechanical design engineering remains a stable and in-demand discipline, supported by continued investment in manufacturing, automation and product development.
Employers are increasingly seeking designers who can combine strong CAD skills with practical engineering judgement. Experience working closely with manufacturing, suppliers and testing teams is becoming as important as software proficiency.
Hybrid working is now common across many mechanical design teams, particularly in consultancy and product development environments. However, roles tied closely to manufacturing still tend to require a regular on-site presence.
Overall, demand remains strongest for mechanical designers who can operate independently, contribute to technical decisions and support projects beyond pure drawing production.