Contract Mechanical Design Engineer

Fed up with contracts that feel like permanent jobs wearing a disguise?



Tired of doing endless tweaks to legacy designs, stuck in meetings about meetings, and not trusted to just crack on? This one's different.



What makes this contract worth your time



You’ll be brought in to design, not to babysit tickets or sit in endless reviews. The focus is on new product development within a defence project team that actually values contractor input. No red tape, no corporate drama, just proper engineering work with clear objectives.



You’ll work directly with senior engineers and production teams to create build-ready designs for systems that end up in serious, real-world environments.



What you’ll be doing



Joining a defence-focused engineering unit, you’ll be producing 3D models and detailed drawings for bespoke mechanical systems. This is precision work that goes into safety-critical applications. You'll be part of a capable, collaborative team that knows what good looks like and moves fast to get it done.



What’s on offer



6-month contract with strong likelihood of extension



Hybrid working, with some time each week on-site in Colchester



Projects with variety, pace and real-world impact



A team that respects your time and knows how to work with contractors



Straightforward onboarding, clear scope, and a strong day rate



What you’ll need



Mechanical design experience in a manufacturing setting



SolidWorks fluency and a head for precision engineering



Experience in defence, aerospace or similarly regulated sectors



Confidence working across functions and pushing designs through to release



BPSS clearance already in place, or willingness to obtain it



Sound like the kind of contract you actually want?



Send your CV or drop a message. If it’s a fit, we’ll get you moving quickly