Job Description: Design Engineer – Plastics Fabrication

Position Title: Design Engineer
Location: Dungarvan Area
Employment Type: Full-time

About Us

Dave Barry Plastics Ltd is a well‑established manufacturer specialising in high‑quality plastic fabrication solutions. We take pride in our craftsmanship, attention to detail, and strong team culture. We are now seeking skilled and motivated Design Engineer to join our workshop team in the Dungarvan area.

Role Overview

We are seeking a skilled and innovative Design Engineer to join our plastics fabrication workshop. The successful candidate will be responsible for designing components, assemblies, and custom solutions made from a variety of plastic materials. This role requires strong technical design capabilities, hands‑on understanding of fabrication processes, and the ability to collaborate closely with production teams to ensure designs are practical, manufacturable, and cost‑effective.

Key Responsibilities

Design & Engineering

• Develop detailed 2D and 3D designs for plastic components, assemblies, jigs, and fixtures using CAD software (e.g., Spaceclaim, SolidWorks, Autodesk Inventor, AutoCAD).
• Translate customer concepts, sketches, and specifications into manufacturable designs.
• Produce engineering drawings, cutting lists, and technical documentation for production.
• Conduct design-for-manufacture (DFM) evaluations to ensure efficient fabrication and assembly.

Fabrication Support

• Work closely with workshop personnel to understand fabrication capabilities such as CNC routing, laser cutting, thermoforming, bending, bonding, and welding of plastics.
• Provide technical guidance to production teams during build phases.
• Troubleshoot design or production issues and propose practical solutions.

Materials & Process Knowledge

• Select appropriate plastics (e.g., acrylic, polycarbonate, PVC, HDPE, ABS) based on application, performance, and manufacturability.
• Understand tolerances, mechanical properties, and environmental considerations of various plastics.

Project & Customer Interaction

• Collaborate with sales and project managers to review customer requirements and provide technical input.
• Prepare design proposals, cost estimates, and feasibility assessments.
• Communicate with customers when required to refine specifications or discuss design revisions.

Quality & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure designs meet required quality standards and relevant safety or industry specifications.
• Contribute to process improvement initiatives within the engineering and fabrication environment.
• Maintain organized design files and documentation in accordance with company standards.

Skills & Qualifications

Essential

• Degree or diploma in Mechanical Engineering, Design Engineering, Product Design, or equivalent experience.
• Experience with CAD to CAM workflows. Knowledge of CNC programming and CAM software is required.
• Proficiency in CAD software (Spaceclaim / Discovery preferred).
• Strong understanding of plastics fabrication processes.
• Excellent problem‑solving skills with a practical, hands‑on mindset.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and work to deadlines.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.

Desirable

• Experience in a plastics manufacturing or fabrication environment.
• Familiarity with thermoplastics material properties.
• Experience with prototyping and rapid manufacturing technologies.

What we offer

• 25 days Holiday + Statutory Holidays (Option to purchase 5 days after probation preriod)
• Employer Pension Contribution Scheme
• Death in Service Benefit of 4x salary
• Cycle Scheme (After probation period)
• VHI Health Cover
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Company Sick pay (After probation period)
• Linkedln Learning (Full Free Access)
• Ownership Works equity program: we believe in the power of employee ownership. All full-time permanent employees are eligible for a one-time stock award after successfully completing one year of employment.