Design & Development Engineer (Press Tooling)

JOB DESCRIPTION

In this role, you’ll remain hands-on with press tooling design while acting as a key expert in sheet metal press
work. You’ll be instrumental in creating tooling that will be manufactured in our UK toolroom and commissioned
through our dedicated process before being deployed across our global sites, including the UK, Dubai, Thailand,
the USA, and the Netherlands. Our tooling supports a wide range of industries, from automotive and construction
to retail and consumer products, giving you unrivalled variety and scope.

Our production capability includes mechanical, hydraulic, and servo presses ranging from 5T to 300T, enabling
tooling for everything from fine-detail components to heavy structural parts. The variety doesn’t stop there—you’ll
also design for a wide spectrum of materials, including conventional and structural steels, stainless steels,
aluminium grades, and copper alloys

THE ROLE

• Design press tools for piercing, stamping, forming or raising sheet metal for use in Mechanical flywheel, Servo or hydraulic power presses, using 3D Cad.
• Take ownership of tooling projects from concept through to commissioning, working closely with the toolroom and our dedicated commissioning team.
• Mentor and guide junior and mid-level engineers, sharing knowledge and raising the technical standard across the department.
• Collaborate with machinists, toolmakers, and production teams globally to ensure your designs deliver results in practice, not just in theory.
• Provide creative, practical solutions to complex manufacturing challenges.
• Ability to capture and specify the design requirements, the development and validation needed to deliver successful press tools, products and components to meet/exceed the customer’s specifications.
• Liaise closely with all departments to fully understand design requirements
• Assist with Requests for Quotation (RFQs) support calculations, feasibility assessments, tool layouts and concepts
• Conceptualise new designs and design revisions
• Improve reliability performance to reduce or eliminate warrantable issues in the field
• Deal with parts suppliers, involving Purchasing where necessary
• Use 2D and 3D CAD to produce designs and detailed drawings
• Drive forward product development, innovation and ‘think outside the box’ to generate engineering advantage for customers, thinking creatively to develop new /improved solution
• Identify and implement design improvements (functionality, cost, design for manufacture)
• Ensure that Health, Safety and Environmental requirements are adhered to.
• Carry out any other duties within the capability of the job holder.

THE CANDIDATE

• Relevant manufacturing / engineering HNC or ONC, A Levels, BTEC Diploma Level 4/3 or equivalent.
• Degree desirable.
• Sheet metal stamping, pressing, clipping, forming and raising.
• This role would suit a designer with experience in sheet metal stamping, progression or transfer pressings, mould tools, or  other sheet metal punching processes.
• Experience in a high-volume sheet metal manufacturing environment.
• Confidence in delivering CAD presentations in a detailed and professional manner
• Mange and coordinate projects to agreed deadlines
• Excellent communication skills
• High level of competence with 2D & 3D CAD packages – ideally VERO VISI, AutoCAD & Autodesk Inventor
• Knowledge of pneumatics, hydraulics and common press components
• Able to draw, read and interpret complex engineering drawings, GA’s and fully understand geometric tolerances
  limits and fits.
• Knowledgeable of conventional tooling manufacturing methods (milling, turning, drilling, grinding & tool making)
• Excellent knowledge of properties of metals and design principles including specialist tool steels and heat
  treatments and coatings.
• Able to effectively train or mentor others.

PERSONAL QUALITIES

• Demonstrates commitment to corporate values
• Good work ethic/reliable
• Interpersonal Savvy
• Civil, courteous and co-operative to colleagues, client
• Proactively contributes to the team
• Able to communicate with all levels of company personnel, both written and verbal
• Action orientated with excellent follow through
• Takes ownership and is accountable
• Patience and Understanding
• Flexible workstyle with an interest in being part of a dynamic and evolving organisation
• Optimistic and open to change
• Willing to work with and learn new technologies
• Maintain standard of dress & personal hygiene acceptable to the company
• Engages interest and participation of others
• Able to work independently as well as in a team
• Energy and Drive for results
• Collaborates – builds partnerships
• Acts with honour and integrity
• Quality & continuous improvement mindset
• Excellent communication skills: active listener, verbal and written
• Health, Safety and Environment focus
• Willing/able to travel abroad and to other sites within UK (when required).

Hadley Group is a world leader in advanced cold rolled steel technology, with manufacturing facilities in Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. We deliver innovative solutions with applications across sectors as diverse as construction, automotive, industrial and agriculture. Our continuing growth and success is entirely dependent upon our ability to attract, retain and develop the best people, and it is for this reason that we promote continuous personal development for everyone working at the Hadley Group.