Jobs in Nottingham

Mechanical Design and Production Engineer

Company: Ossila Ltd
Salary: £38-45K depending on experience
Hours: Full time
Location: Nottingham (close to University Park Campus)
Application Deadline: 29/06/2026
Start Date: As soon as possible (full-time on-site working essential)

We are looking for a capable and practically minded engineer or scientist to help develop new product lines of scientific equipment and bring them into small-scale production.

About the Role

At Ossila, we design and build innovative pieces of scientific equipment with a focus on renewable energy and materials science. We manufacture a wide range of products in-house and are starting a new metrology team, which is currently based within Nottingham University Park Campus, but is soon to move to the science park.

We have a working prototype of a new scientific instrument developed by a senior scientist in our Nottingham team. Your job is to take it from working system to manufacturable product. You will design it for small-scale production, build the supply chain, and will eventually own the assembly process end-to-end. This is a founding role on a new team, and the right person will have significant influence over how it develops. You will also need to liaise with other parts of the business including our electronic engineering team, sourcing and supply chain team, and customer service team.

In due course you will also help to create initial R&D prototypes of more products in our pipeline and pull them through to production as quickly and efficiently as possible.

As a Mechanical Design and Production Engineer, you will be responsible for:

• The quality and cost of our products with a focus on using innovative designs to give excellent quality at affordable prices.
• Building a portfolio of products developing and maintaining a supply chain and manufacturing capacity and quality.
• Maintaining data integrity in our component and manufacturing management databases.
• Professionally managing all aspects of new products from design through to subcontract of components, assembly and quality.
• Designing manufacturable products based on a product brief, with appropriate tolerances for maintainable quality.
• Finding reliable and quality-oriented manufacturers and suppliers and working with them to get the best price/performance for components while adhering to international standards on compliance.
• Optimising the design of components for various manufacturing processes, including CNC machining (3-axis and 5-axis), sheet metal forming, CNC turning, and 3D printing.
• Designing to relevant standards such as the Machinery and Laboratory Equipment directives.
• Producing technical documentation and managing version control for parts and assemblies.
• Meeting overall project objectives and deadlines.
• The personal assembly and quality assurance for the first few units of new products and producing build-manuals and quality-checklists to hand-over to others.
• Customer-facing technical support for any mechanical defects in products.

In this role, you will be the design and production force behind a new range of products to drive business growth of a newly formed team. As part of a small and fast-growing company, you will work both collaboratively and independently as appropriate. Occasional visits to our headquarters in Sheffield will be required (for example during training).

About You

You will need to be a strong self-learner, able to read and digest information quickly. A relevant engineering degree is useful, but we value demonstrable practical experience and all-round ability more. Hobbyist model builders, engine rebuilders, bike mechanics or precision woodcraft skills are all welcome in conjunction with a good degree (or equivalent experience) and strong CAD skills.

• You want to drive a business-focused approach to engineering design combining quality, pace, and value for money.
• You have significant experience using CAD on a regular basis either professionally or for personal projects and an ability to design things quickly, elegantly and effectively in a way that is practical for physical production (FreeCAD is our preferred software, but we also have SolidWorks and Fusion360 licenses in the business).
• You have practical working knowledge of manufacturing techniques, tolerances and limitations.
• You are a practical hands-on person and excellent, pragmatic problem solver.
• You are excited to take responsibility for a range of products and work to continually create value (sales) and increase quality for the business.
• You work diligently to ensure activities are fully completed and approach your work in a highly organised, detail-oriented way to help the team achieve demanding timescales.
• You have a calm demeanour and the ability to deal with the unexpected and work effectively under pressure.
• You enjoy being part of a team and foster a collaborative environment through effective communication.
• You are keen to continue your personal learning and development.
• You are adaptable, resourceful and have an aptitude for problem solving.
• You have strong IT skills, especially with Excel and are happy to use manufacturing database
• You communicate clearly with non-technical colleagues and can support customers on technical queries about your products when needed.
• You are an effective multi-tasker and can focus well in a busy environment.

Why Work with Us?

Progression will be an integral part of this role, as you will expand your remit as our first products go from scientific prototypes to engineered products being manufactured under your supervision, as well as with the growth and expansion of the business unit as more products are added. You will be encouraged to adopt continuous learning and to help shape the future of this role whether moving towards a technical expert or a production-management role.

Joining our team means you become part of a forward-thinking organisation that values innovation, collaboration, and personal growth. At Ossila, we offer:

• A long-running, quarterly profit share scheme (worth about 9% of salary for 2025-2026)
• Regular ‘tea and cake’ where we catch up with each other
• 24 days holiday per year (+ 8 bank holidays)
• Matched pension scheme (5% employer + 5% employee)

How We Work

Working together in-person is an essential part of Ossila. We value the collaborative, knowledge-sharing moments that happen in-person, and this is why our roles are office-based. If you are someone who shares this perspective and are enthusiastic about joining Ossila in our Nottingham office, we want to hear from you.

About Us

Ossila is a small but high-growth business which manufactures and supplies scientific equipment, materials, and laboratory supplies to institutions around the world. Our aim is to help accelerate the pace of scientific discovery. To do this, we are looking to continue our rapid expansion with a view to building a world-class company of significant size and stature over the next five years. Formed by academics from the University of Sheffield, we now employ over 50 people across our offices in the Sheffield and Nottingham in the UK, and Leiden in the Netherlands.

We pride ourselves on our high-quality products, excellent customer support, and accessible prices. Our customers can be found in over 80 countries (approximately 85% of our sales are exported) and include many of the world’s leading research institutions. We have won both the Institute of Physics award for innovation and the Queen’s Award for export.

How to Apply

To apply, email us at recruitment@ossila.com with a personalised covering letter. This is your chance to tell us why you are interested in the position and how your skills, experience, and qualifications make you a good fit. A CV should be included but it is the covering letter that is the primary consideration for screening candidates.

Visit www.ossila.com/apply for more information. No agencies please.