National AI Awards 2025Discover AI's trailblazers! Join us to celebrate innovation and nominate industry leaders.

Nominate & Attend

Design Engineer

Longford, Coventry
2 weeks ago
Create job alert

Job Title:​ Design Engineer - Armoured Vehicles
Job Reports To:​ Chief Engineer
Department:​ Composite Armour Systems (CAS)
Location:​ Coventry, UK
Core Hours:​ 08:00-16:35 (Mon – Thu) 08:00-15:10 (Fri)
Vacancy Type:​ Permanent, full time and based on-site. Potential hybrid working but subject to operational needs.
Salary: ​£35,000-£45,000 (subject to experience)



Design protection that saves lives.


Looking for a role where your engineering skills directly protect those on the front line? At NP Aerospace, this is your chance to work on advanced systems that deliver real-world impact.



As our next Design Engineer, you’ll play a hands-on role in the design, development and integration of protective components and vehicle systems used in some of the world’s most demanding military and security environments. This isn’t about maintaining legacy parts – it’s about solving complex design challenges from concept to production, in a team that values precision, innovation and mission-critical performance.



We work fast, support each other, and deliver engineering that matters. If you want to grow your career on real-life-saving projects, keep reading.

What’s in it for you?


✅ Join a growing business with serious purpose
✅ Work on high-impact defence engineering projects
✅ Salary of £35,000–£45,000, based on experience
✅ Half-year discretionary bonus
✅ 25 days’ holiday + bank holidays + holiday purchase scheme
✅ Two weeks’ paid leave for Reservists and Cadet volunteers
✅ 9% combined pension contributions
✅ Life cover (3x salary) and BHSF cash healthcare plan

What you’ll be doing:



Designing and developing vehicle protection systems using 3D CAD (we use Creo – SolidWorks is a bonus).

*

Collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure structural integrity, performance and ease of manufacture.

*

Managing BOMs and drawings via PLM (Windchill preferred).

*

Balancing cost, weight and strength targets to deliver practical, field-ready systems.

*

Taking designs from concept to production in low- to medium-volume manufacturing.

What we’re looking for:

*

A degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent practical experience.

*

Engineering experience in defence, aerospace or automotive sectors.

*

Proficiency in CAD and drawing creation (Creo preferred).

*

A practical understanding of fabrication, machining and composite materials.

*

Someone who can balance technical design with real-world performance.

*

Chartered status (CEng) is a bonus – or be on the path to it.

About NP Aerospace


We’re a global armour technology company with over 40 years of defence expertise. From ballistic plates and bomb suits to armoured vehicles and helmets, our products are trusted by some of the world’s most respected defence organisations. Innovation, protection and performance are at the heart of everything we do.



Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: NP Aerospace is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of race, colour, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We are also fully committed to supporting the Defence Community and actively advertise roles on Defence specific platforms such as CTP, Force Families, Forces Employment Charity, and Veterans Job Board.



Data Privacy: NP Aerospace respects the privacy of all applicants. Personal information provided during the application process will be treated in accordance with our privacy policy and applicable data protection laws.



Please note: If successful, you will be required to sign the Official Secrets Act before you can begin your employment with NP Aerospace

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Design Engineer

Design Engineer

Design Engineer

design engineer

Design Engineer

Design Engineer

National AI Awards 2025

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

How to Find Hidden Space Jobs in the UK Using Professional Bodies like the RAeS, UKSpace & More

The UK space sector is enjoying rapid growth—driven by satellite constellations, launch services, Earth observation, space science, and defence applications. But while demand for engineers, scientists, mission designers, and space analysts is high, many of the most compelling roles are never advertised publicly. Instead, these opportunities are often filled through professional networks, working groups, innovation clusters, and academic-industry partnerships. This guide will show you how to access hidden UK space jobs by engaging with bodies like the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS), UKSpace, British Interplanetary Society (BIS), and regional space clusters. By leveraging membership directories, special-interest groups (SIGs), CPD events, and funded projects, you can position yourself to be first in line—even before roles are posted.

How to Get a Better Space Sector Job After a Lay-Off or Redundancy

Being made redundant from a role in the UK space sector can be disheartening. Whether your work was tied to satellite design, launch services, ground systems, mission operations, or Earth observation analytics, the experience and specialist knowledge you've gained is still highly valuable. The UK government’s Space Strategy, increased commercial investment, and new launch initiatives across Cornwall, Scotland, and Wales continue to drive opportunities in upstream and downstream space technologies. This guide will help you relaunch your career in the UK space sector after redundancy.

UK Space Jobs Salary Calculator 2025: Work Out Your Market Value in Seconds

Why last year’s pay survey already misfires for UK space talent Ask a Satellite Systems Engineer wrestling with RF budgets, a Mission Operations Analyst shepherding cubesats at 04:00 UTC, or a Launch Vehicle Propulsion Engineer machining ablative liners in Cornwall: “Am I earning what I deserve?” The honest answer drifts faster than orbital debris. Since early 2024 the UK Space Agency released £1.6 billion of National Space Strategy funding, SaxaVord’s spaceport edged toward its first vertical launch licence, and Harwell Campus welcomed three VC‑fuelled in‑orbit‑servicing start‑ups. Each headline ratcheted hiring demand—and salaries. A salary guide printed in 2024 is already as dated as a Block II GPS ephemeris: no mention of the Scottish micro‑launcher premium, the AI‑earth‑observation bubble, or the sudden scarcity of flight‑dynamics controllers who can wrangle multi‑constellation mega‑swarms. To replace guesswork with data, UKSpaceJobs.co.uk distilled a clear, three‑factor formula. Feed in your discipline, UK region & seniority; you’ll get a realistic 2025 baseline—no stale averages, no vague “competitive” claims. This article unpacks the formula, explores the forces inflating space salaries, and sets out concrete steps to boost your value within ninety days.