Design Engineer – Automotive

Design Engineer (Automotive / Vehicle Conversion)
Location: Greater Manchester 
Salary: £35-42k DOE + Benefits
Job Type: Permanent | Full-Time
 
Join a Leading Specialist Automotive Manufacturer
 
GTS Group are recruiting for a well-established UK automotive manufacturing group specialising in vehicle conversions, coachbuilding, and emergency service vehicles.
 
With decades of experience delivering high-quality, bespoke vehicles, we are now looking for a Design Engineer to join thier growing team. This is a fantastic opportunity to work on innovative vehicle projects, from concept through to production.
 
The Role – Design Engineer (Automotive)
As a Design Engineer, you’ll play a key role in both developing existing vehicle platforms and bringing new vehicle designs to life.
 
You’ll work closely with production, engineering, and cross-functional teams to:

• Improve product quality
• Reduce manufacturing costs
• Increase reliability and efficiency

 
Key Responsibilities

• Design vehicle components, assemblies, and systems using 3D CAD (Inventor)
• Create and manage Bills of Materials (BoMs)
• Support new product development from concept through to production
• Drive continuous improvement across manufacturing and production processes
• Apply Design for Manufacture & Assembly (DFM/DFA) principles
• Identify production issues and implement engineering solutions
• Support vehicle homologation / Whole Vehicle Type Approval processes
• Work to UK and international engineering standards
• Collaborate with production, quality, and procurement teams
• Carry out engineering calculations (e.g. weight distribution, stress analysis)

 
Skills & Experience Required
 
Essential:

• Experience as a Design Engineer within automotive manufacturing
• Strong 3D CAD skills (Autodesk Inventor / Solidworks preferred)
• Experience creating assemblies, drawings, and BoMs
• Understanding of manufacturing processes (sheet metal, fabrication, etc.)
• Knowledge of DFM / DFA principles
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills

Desirable:

• Experience in vehicle design or vehicle conversion
• Familiarity with Vault (PLM), ERP systems, or Microsoft Dynamics NAV
• Experience with FEA, surfacing, or advanced modelling
• Exposure to homologation / vehicle approval processes

 
What’s on Offer

• Competitive salary
• 30 days holiday (including bank holidays) + Christmas shutdown
• Early finish on Fridays
• Company pension scheme
• Employee assistance programme (including GP access & counselling)
• Supportive and collaborative team environment
• Long-term career development within a growing business

Why Apply?
 
This is an opportunity to:

• Work on specialist vehicle projects used in critical applications
• Be part of a business that values innovation, quality, and engineering excellence
• Play a key role in improving products and shaping future designs

Apply Now
If you’re a Design Engineer looking to work in automotive manufacturing, vehicle conversion, or coachbuilding, apply today or get in touch for a confidential discussion.
Keywords
Design Engineer jobs UK, Automotive Design Engineer, Vehicle Design Engineer, Inventor CAD jobs, Mechanical Design Engineer UK, DFM DFA engineering jobs, vehicle conversion jobs, coachbuilding jobs, manufacturing design engineer UK, Greater Manchester engineering jobs