Research & Development Engineer

  • Polypipe Building Services
  • Oct 07, 2025
Full time Construction

Job Description

Who are we?

Specialists in providing engineered above ground drainage and water supply systems, Polypipe Building Services leverages offsite fabrication to design and deliver solutions to mechanical and public health engineers, M&E contractors as well as local authorities. Polypipe Building Services houses well-known industry brand Terrain and has been delivering systems to commercial, high rise residential, healthcare, education and leisure projects for over 50 years.

About the role: You will be responsible for the research and development of

  • New products

  • Product iterations

  • Process improvements

All to deliver business strategy while maximising value of our portfolios to timescale and cost, either as a project lead or part of a wider multi-functional project team. Identifying new opportunities, validating into tangible opportunities managing them through the NPD process.

Your day to day:

  • Responsible for design, prototyping and material selection for the product portfolio

  • Working to a brief to deliver key projects and initiatives, ensuring that you are on budget and on time

  • Measuring project progress, and reporting by exception on constraints and challenges

  • Bringing innovative concepts together into tangible solutions and products

  • Working alongside the Marketing team to support campaigns

  • Working with engineering & manufacturing innovations to monitor technological advances and explore new development strands as well as process improvements

  • Participate in continuous improvement of R&D by identifying efficiencies

  • Build a working knowledge of all our products and systems, whether manufactured, fabricated or bought in

  • Delivery of added value on products

  • Support occasional external conferences and site meetings

  • Keep abreast of market and competitor changes

Skills & Experience we require:

The essentials:

Strong track record in product design, generally equivalent to around two years experience.

In-depth knowledge of 3D and 2D CAD design software

In-depth knowledge of the MS suite of office software

Basic knowledge of polymer materials and their properties

Experience of design for additive manufacturing

The desirables:

Mechanical Engineering product design experience

Knowledge of BIM

Knowledge of FMEA and DfMA concepts and relevant software

Experience with CFD

Knowledge of project management software

Minimum of HND qualified within a relevant engineering discipline, Degree qualified in an engineering/design discipline is preferred

3D printing

Experience of protecting a product with IP

Benchwork practical skills

Plastics processing skills

Knowledge of toolmaking techniques

What we can offer you:

A great team whilst working alongside another R&D Engineer

Monday - Friday work only with flexible start/finish times including early finish Fridays at 3:00pm!

Competitive salary

25 days of annual leave plus the bank holidays (with a holiday purchase scheme that starts in January 2026!)

Matched pension contributions up to 8%

Sharesave scheme

Team days and events

Life assurance

Want to know more? Apply now or call to speak to our Resourcing Business Partner on (phone number removed). We can't wait to hear from you!