Design & Development Engineer in PR8

Job Description

Contract type: Full time\nHours: 37 hours per week\nSalary: Up to £50,000\nLocation: Southport\n \nReporting to the Head of Product Design and Development, you will be a key member of the Design Engineering team, responsible for the analysis, design, development, and continual improvement of innovative electronic products for manufacture, leveraging new and emerging technologies to support the company’s growth objectives.\n \nWorking under the guidance of Principal and Senior Engineers, the role requires the delivery of high‑quality engineering outputs, including schematics, PCB designs, simulations, calculations, technical specifications, drawings, bills of materials and user manuals to support engineering change and approval processes.\n \nYou will actively support the full product lifecycle assessment across the existing product portfolio, managing design modifications, component obsolescence, cost, and reliability improvements.\n \nIn parallel, you will contribute to project management activities by supporting planning, scheduling and risk management to ensure projects are delivered to agreed time, cost, and quality targets, while collaborating closely with cross‑functional teams, including mechanical, software, manufacturing, and product management, to ensure alignment with product roadmaps and priorities.\n \nStrong engagement with manufacturing is required to drive Design for Manufacture and Test (DFM/DfT), improve build and test processes, enhance product quality, and provide hands‑on technical support to resolve production issues.\n \nThe role also involves coordinating with procurement, supply chain, and vendors to ensure timely sourcing of components and quality for prototyping and production.\n \nThe position requires a mid‑senior level of expertise in analogue and digital circuit design, PCB layout and review, power electronics, embedded systems, component selection and compliance (e.g. EMC, safety, and relevant regulatory standards), alongside proficiency with CAD and simulation tools, design verification and validation, failure analysis, and lifecycle documentation, complemented by strong communication, problem‑solving, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement skills.\n \nThis position offers numerous opportunities for professional development, including training programs and workshops to enhance your skills and knowledge in electronics engineering and railway signalling. You will benefit from mentorship by experienced engineers who will guide you through your professional growth and development.\n \nThe role encourages both autonomy and initiative, allowing you to take ownership of your work and responsibilities.

At the same time, you will be an integral part of a collaborative team, contributing to a supportive and dynamic work environment. Demonstrating your skills and dedication can lead to career advancement within the company\n \nEssential Criteria:\n\nDegree in Electronics Engineering\nExpertise in both analogue and digital electronic design as well as possessing an excellent knowledge of embedded software (PIC and C).\nWorking knowledge of Engineering design systems (Autocad / Cadstar / eCadstar) and design rules\nExperience in product design lifecycle – from concept to introduction into manufacturing (ideally in safety critical industry)\nExperience of design office revision control and file management\nExperience in component obsolescence management\nExcellent analytical and problem-solving skills\nAble to liaise with customers to understand technical requirements\nStrong customer focus\nPassion for producing innovative design solutions\nExcellent team player\nIT literate\n \nDesirable Criteria:\n\nExperience / knowledge of rail industry standards, SMD LED technology / optical design\nProduct safety knowledge EN 50128, EN 50129\nProject Management Experience highly desirable\n \nWhy Join Us?\n\nInnovative Environment: Be part of a team that values creativity and forward-thinking\nCareer Growth: Opportunities to advance and become a leader in railway signalling engineering\nSupportive Culture: Work in a collaborative and supportive environment\n \nBenefits\n\nCompetitive salary\nPension and death in service provisions for employees in pension scheme\n25 Days Hols (plus Bank Holidays)\nEmployee Assistance Programme (EAP)\nHealth and Wellbeing Initiatives\nEmployee offers and discounts from various retailers\nCycle to work scheme, recognition events and rewards\nFree car parking\nBlended/hybrid working available\n\nUnipart – Who are we?\n \nUnipart Rail & Tech is part of the Unipart Group, one of Europe's leading independent logistics’ companies that employs more than 8,000 employees worldwide and has an annual turnover of more than £1 billion.We have a long heritage in the rail industry based on decades of experience, we have continuous improvement plans to embrace innovation in both products and business techniques to ensure that we remain the first and best choice for our customers. As a valued employee of Unipart, you can look forward to a varied and rewarding career with a company that holds the Investors in People accreditation and also world class status in employee engagement.\n \nREF-(Apply online only)