Mechanical Design Engineer

About the role

This is genuinely consequential engineering work. You just won't be able to tell anyone. Minerva Defence is one of the fastest-growing defence technology companies in Europe. We create the software, hardware and networking that make unmanned systems effective on the modern battlefield, all ideated, designed and manufactured end-to-end in the UK, and in active use today. We are deliberately low-profile: a team of around 60, small in headcount and outsized in effect. We look for people who are not just talented but genuinely committed to the work, the team, and the purpose behind it. This is the kind of work you will be proud of, even if you cannot talk about it. Mechanical design here carries real weight: you will own significant work packages, make decisions with full context, and contribute across a complex, multidisciplinary product. The gap between designing something and seeing it in production is weeks, not years. Responsibilities Design and develop mechanical components and assemblies across the full product lifecycle, from concept through production release Produce CAD models and engineering drawings to the required standard, applying appropriate tolerancing, material selection and DFM/DFA principles so designs can be manufactured, assembled and supported at scale Perform engineering analysis and calculations to support and validate design decisions Work directly with manufacturing, assembly and quality teams to resolve technical issues and support build activities Participate in design reviews, presenting work clearly and responding to technical feedback Manage engineering changes and maintain accurate configuration control in line with company processes Support prototyping, testing and design iteration as products develop Contribute to engineering standards and processes as the team scales Minimum: Degree in mechanical engineering or a closely related discipline Demonstrable experience in mechanical design, including CAD modelling and engineering drawings Practical understanding of tolerancing, materials selection and manufacturing processes Eligible for UK security clearance: UK citizen or five or more years of continuous UK residency Able to work on-site in Herefordshire for the majority of the working week Preferred: Proficiency in SolidWorks or a comparable parametric CAD package Familiarity with GD&T and BS 8888 drawing standards Experience in aerospace, defence, automotive, or another high-reliability engineering environment Experience with FEA or other simulation tools Comfortable building, testing, and iterating physical prototypes to validate designs Experience supporting or leading design reviews and engineering change processes The job is demanding enough, so we try to take the everyday pressures off your plate. The benefits are built around that, starting with a genuine stake in what we are building. Share options vesting over three years, so you own a real piece of it Bupa private health, fully funded from day one 6% employer pension contribution 25 days leave plus bank holidays, and properly enhanced cover for both parents Enterprise level AI tooling, with as many tokens as you need to accelerate your work Relocation support if you are moving to join us, or a home office budget if you work remotely The full detail comes with your offer.

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