Product Development / NPI Engineer

Our client in Bognor Regis is seeking a hands-on Product Development / NPI Engineer to take mechanical products from concept and prototype through testing, DFMA and production handover.

Our client, a growing manufacturer in Bognor Regis, is looking for a hands-on Product Development / NPI Engineer to take product concepts and mechanical designs through practical development, prototyping, testing and preparation for manufacture — making sure products are robust, manufacturable and ready for a smooth production handover.

The role supports two areas of the business: locks and hardware for metal gates, and a more project-driven offshore division that involves close technical collaboration with customers and their engineering teams. The emphasis is on turning designs into reliable working products rather than purely conceptual design.

Pay: £55,000 per year.

Reporting to: Engineering Manager, working closely with the Product Manager, Chief Engineer, CAD Design Engineer, Engineering Technician and CNC Setter / Operator, as well as Operations, Quality, Procurement, Sales and Marketing.

The role

Product development and NPI
- Support and progressively own the development of assigned products from concept through prototype, validation and production handover.
- Review concepts and mechanical designs for function, fit, reliability, manufacturability and assembly.
- Develop and modify 3D CAD models, engineering drawings and product details.
- Plan, build or coordinate prototypes and use practical fault-finding to refine designs.
- Support technical assessment of customer-specific applications.

DFMA and production preparation
- Apply Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) principles to simplify products and support cost-effective manufacture.
- Lead and take part in cross-functional 3P (Production Preparation Process) workshops.
- Build low-cost prototypes, mock-ups and trial assemblies before production scale-up.
- Incorporate practical error-proofing (poka-yoke) into products, fixtures and assembly methods.
- Design, develop and validate simple production tooling, jigs, fixtures and assembly aids.

Testing, validation and quality
- Plan and carry out practical product testing, and design or coordinate test rigs and methods.
- Support validation of reliability, longevity and real-world suitability before release.
- Escalate significant design, compliance, safety or customer-impacting decisions for senior review.

Documentation and handover
- Develop drawings, specifications, Process Flow Diagrams, PFMEA and work instructions.
- Support accurate BOMs and complete engineering information before release.
- Work with Operations during pilot and first builds to resolve design, assembly and process issues.

Collaboration
- Work with Operations, Quality and Procurement to evaluate supplier capability and production risks.
- Provide practical technical input to external suppliers producing prototypes, components or assemblies.
- Mentor less-experienced technical team members through suitable NPI work.

What you'll bring

- A mechanical engineering qualification or equivalent practical experience.
- Experience in product development, NPI, manufacturing / production engineering or a similar hands-on mechanical role.
- Experience with 3D CAD and engineering drawings (Onshape, SolidWorks or similar).
- A good understanding of DFMA, tolerances, materials, assembly methods and common manufacturing processes.
- Working knowledge of CNC machining, sheet metal, laser cutting, casting, forging, moulding, fabrication, finishing and additive manufacture.
- Hands-on experience with prototyping, testing, fault-finding, jigs / fixtures or test rigs.
- Strong attention to detail and good communication skills.
- Comfort working in a growing SME where practical ownership is valued.

Desirable: experience with 3P, PFMEA, process-flow development, work instructions or lean production-preparation methods. Traditional complex toolmaking experience is not required.