Mechanical Design Engineer

This posting is for hourly paid logistics employees to apply through.

Ocado Group is an equal opportunities employer and as such makes every effort to ensure that all potential employees are treated fairly and equally, regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, age, or disability or union membership status.

About Us

Ocado Technology’s ;Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) teams are at the cutting-edge of our technology engineering business. From the design and manufacture of the most state-of-the-art products in the business, to their delivery into our multi-million pound Customer Fulfilment Centres (CFCs) across the globe, our bespoke electrical and mechanical development projects are pushing the boundaries of innovation and automation.

Imagine some of the challenges of developing an ultra high throughput system that is the size of 4 football pitches. Or the challenges of tolerance, scale, static and dynamic loads, manufacturing and rapid deployment for systems of this scale. Think of the challenges of developing a system with all of these requirements that must be “fit and forget” over a 20 year period of 24/7 use. And then imagine achieving all of this within a system that must remain safe and operational after an earthquake.

If you like challenges, and are looking to work on innovative solutions to problems that have never been solved within a fast paced, exciting organisation, then we’d love to hear from you.

About the Role:

This role is part of the Grid Storage Team, which oversees the design, verification, manufacturing, and validation of storage containers known as Hive Totes. Hive Totes are produced in both metal and plastic. You’ll be working on high-demand products used across multiple large-scale client sites worldwide. With millions of units required globally, this position offers the chance to engage with cutting-edge, industry-leading mass manufacturing methods.

We are looking for an experienced Mechanical Design Engineer to take ownership of and drive continuous improvement in in-service storage products while contributing to the development of innovative new solutions.

In this role, you will be actively engaged in every stage of the product development lifecycle. This includes translating business needs into technical and product specifications, generating concepts, performing design and verification, providing manufacturing support, validating products, and offering ongoing in-service support and enhancements.

This position offers an outstanding opportunity for personal development and career growth. For those currently at the E2 level, we are committed to supporting your progression through a set of targets and offering the potential for promotion to E3 in the shortest achievable timeframe.

Key responsibilities:

• Leading engineering delivery of new products and engineering change.
• Taking design responsibility for products intended for both low and high production volumes, typically in metals or plastic, using a variety of manufacturing techniques.
• Driving products through the design process from a blank sheet of paper into production. This includes the resolution of system-architecture issues and the partitioning of designs to enable the desired cost and iterative delivery strategies.
• Working in partnership with the other stream disciplines to produce products based on sound engineering principles. They will be appropriately de-risked, optimised, meet Ocado’s expectations of quality, and delivered in the agreed timescale.
• Communicating to different levels and business functions within the business, from junior engineers to directors.
• Generating verification evidence (calculations etc.) to inform the design.
• Generating design documentation, including 3D CAD models, 2D Drawings, and BOMs.
• Change management for the range of Storage products, including impact assessment, incorporation into the existing design data, and contributing to Change Control Board meetings.

About You:

• Experience in a design role.
• A data-driven analytical approach with an eye for detail and ability to interpret complex data sets.
• A “Learn Fast” attitude with a focus on experimentation and prototyping.
• A proven track record of the Design Change process and change management tools.
• Experience of delivering work packages to time and budget constraints.
• Disciplined in applying defined processes and standards.
• Proficient in documentation version control, design review and sign off processes.

What we offer you

Our employee benefits are designed for you, we care about people and we’ve ensured we have a wealth of benefits that focus on your well-being. We regularly review our benefits to ensure we are supporting our employees appropriately.

• 30 days ‘working from anywhere in the world’ policy 
• Wellbeing support through dedicated apps and an Employee Assistance Programme 
• 25 days annual leave, rising to 27 days after 5 years service (plus optional holiday purchase)
• Pension scheme (various options available including employer contribution matching up to 7%)
• Generous Private Medical Insurance (within the first month of joining!)
• Income Protection (can be up to 50% of salary for 3 years) and Life Assurance (3 x annual salary) 
• 22 weeks paid maternity/primary parent leave and 6 weeks paid paternity leave (once relevant service requirements complete) 
• Train Ticket loan (interest-free)
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Free shuttle bus to and from Hatfield Train Station to the Hatfield offices 
• Free shuttle bus to and from Welwyn Garden City Train Station to the Welwyn Garden City offices
• Opportunity to participate in Sharesave and Buy as You Earn share schemes
• 15% discount on Ocado.com and free delivery for all employees (within the first month of joining!