Design Engineer

The Role

Our creative Technical Department currently has an immediate opening for a Design Engineer with strong mechanical engineering skills. The Design Engineer will be responsible for carrying out duties including design, research, prototyping, engineering documentation, estimating and process improvement. The successful candidate will report directly to the Technical Manager and collaborate with design/purchasing and workshop/assembly teams on design projects.

Responsible for the technical design and implementation of new products as well as improving and maintaining our extensive range of existing products.

This an excellent opportunity to work in a friendly work environment with a team that is dedicated and passionate about craftsmanship and innovation.

Responsibilities

1. Ensuring that product development and design consider cost, effectiveness, ease of manufacture and safety, ensuring it meets current industry and business standards.
2. Guaranteeing customer service in everything you do, providing expert advice to your customers in friendly manner to deliver service, with the desire to exceed customer expectations.
3. Use specialised 3D CAD software to create models and drawings of products and its components.
4. Updating and maintaining stock records and BOMs.
5. Research new materials and methods of development.
6. Organise and maintain existing engineering records.
7. Construct prototypes and confirm designs with design/purchasing team.
8. Perform physical testing on engineering prototypes.

Skills Required:

• Solidworks software packages or similar would be an advantage
• Must be able to think creatively, innovatively with impeccable attention to detail
• Extensive knowledge of metal and wood fabrication processes
• Ability to plan, schedule, coordinator and problem solve effectively
• Strong analytical skills, having the ability to deal with large amounts of complex data
• Must have a strong quality ethos
• Must be proficient in Microsoft office
• Mechanical Engineering degree (or similar) desirable but not essential

So that’s the serious bit, but what’s it like to work at Playdale?

People are at the heart of Playdale’s success, so we invest in development of our team plus we offer a company-wide bonus for achieving awesome results.  We offer 25 days holiday plus statutory days and if you have a big birthday ending with a zero we give you that off too.  There is a relaxed dress code, discounted gym membership, free flu jabs, free tea and coffee plus lots of cake, we love cake, and fish and chips.  We value our community and all muck in to raise money for three charities chosen by the team.  And we actually quite like each other, so we are sociable crowd who like to have a bit of fun.

If you are an ambitious and passionate individual with a drive to create a positive customer experience then you may be just what we are looking for, so contact us today at HR@playdale.co.uk with your application to join #TEAMPlaydale.

We are looking for an enthusiastic Assembly Operative with experience of working in a fast-paced workshop environment to assemble products for despatch from our Haverthwaite facility.

We recruit on the individual having the right attitude and believe the skills can be trained for the right individual.

The ideal candidate will:

• Have assembly experience and be able to understand and follow drawings, instructions and works orders, whilst this is desirable it’s not essential as full training can be offered to the correct candidate showing the right aptitude.
• Be mechanically minded and good with hand tools.
• Be able to visually inspect finished products and compare them with requirements to determine if the process has been completed properly.
• Have a keen eye for detail and have a results-driven approach.
• Must have ability to undertake manual handling duties.
• Be able to demonstrate control of goods in and out of assembly area.

This is an excellent opportunity for the right individual to be trained and developed who can demonstrate high levels of concentration and precision, ensuring a ‘right first time’ approach.  You must have good communication and interpersonal skills, be self-motivated, and have a structured approach to planning and managing your own workload. Flexibility and ‘can do’ attitude is also essential.

This is a permanent, full-time position (38 hrs per week).

Playdale Playgrounds is an equal opportunities employer.

If you are interested in this role, please send your CV to hr@playdale.co.uk

Team Leader – Production

Are you an experienced Production Team Leader?  Or are you a Production Operative ready to take the next step into a management role with a sound knowledge of production methods?  If so, then this role could be for you?

You will be responsible for effectively managing, supervising and controlling the joinery, timber, rope and accessories production workshops.   Providing high quality leadership of the team to drive a positive culture.  Driving high performance and continual improvement of Playdale product quality, on time delivery, profit maximisation and safety performance.   This an excellent opportunity to work in a friendly work environment with a team that is dedicated and passionate about craftsmanship and innovation.

 Responsibilities:

• Promoting and setting safety, quality and housekeeping standards.
• Managing a team of 7 people, including daily workloads, staffing issues, and hands on involvement in production output, ensuring optimal production output is achieved.
• Responsibility for the on-time completion of all the production works orders and goods inward checks to meet and exceed client expectations.
• Assisting the Production Manager with effective capacity planning and management of the production facility so that manning levels are appropriate for the planned volume of work to meet the operational agreed KPI’s. This requires the continuous and effective review of demand and resource in order to achieve maximum output.
• Defining problems, finding solutions that work, making collaborative decisions about change ensuring effective implementation of resolution.
• To drive a positive KPI culture within the team. Ensuring that all quality systems, risk assessments and procedures are followed.
• To actively monitor attendance and performance of staff.
• Being serious about looking after our people, provide help, support and training by finding ways to help them develop, grow and be successful in line with our values.

Skills required:

1. Active participation in Lean and CI concepts and tools.
2. Must have a strong proven track record of leadership and people management skills.
3. Must have strong communication skills who can think outside the box.
4. Conversant in conducting risk assessments, H&S Inspections and 5S methodology.
5. Ability to prioritise workload and organise components/kit.
6. Strong analytical skills having ability to deal with data.
7. Highly organised and results oriented with a strong quality ethos.
8. Outgoing personality, with a flexible attitude who will go the extra mile.

So that’s the serious bit about what we are looking for in you, but what’s it like to work at Playdale?

People are at the heart of Playdale’s success, so we invest in development of our team plus we offer a company-wide bonus for achieving awesome results.  We offer 25 days holiday plus statutory days and if you have a big birthday ending with a zero we give you that off too.  There is a workwear provided, discounted gym membership, free flu jabs, free tea and coffee plus lots of cake, we love cake.  We value our community and all muck in to raise money for three charities chosen by the team.  And we actually quite like each other, so we are sociable crowd who like to have a bit of fun.

If you are an ambitious and passionate individual with a drive to create a positive customer experience then you may be just what we are looking for, so contact us today at HR@playdale.co.uk with your application to join #TEAMPlaydale.