Liam McKinnon
Farnborough,Hampshire
Summary
Mechanical Design Engineer with extensive experience delivering complex automation and machinery projects from concept through manufacture. Proven track record of reducing product costs, improving manufacturability, implementing engineering governance systems and leading cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives. Experienced in DFMA, machine design, change management, ISO 9001 aligned processes and large-scale product redesign projects delivering measurable commercial benefits. Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders across Engineering, Production, Quality, Purchasing and Operations while driving technical and organisational improvements.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Mechanical Design Engineer
LG Motion (Robotics and Automation)
Basingstoke, Hampshire
11.2025 - Current
- Developed and implemented 8 engineering governance processes, with 5 adopted company-wide, improving design control, revision management and change management across six departments.
- Reviewed and categorised 115 Design Change Requests (DCRs), reducing drawing-related DCRs on new projects to just six occurrences over a seven-month period.
- Redesigned the company's DCR management system in line with ISO 9001 principles, improving traceability, reporting capability and audit readiness.
- Designed and implemented a standardised project file structure, improving document retrieval efficiency by 20% and strengthening revision control.
- Led the complete redesign of a dual palletiser platform, reducing manufacturing cost by 35% (£67.5k to £43.6k), assembly time by 75%, and machine weight by 30%.
- Improved machine throughput by approximately 200% through mechanical redesign, modularisation and enhanced system architecture.
- Delivered significant improvements in manufacturability, serviceability and operator usability, creating a more commercially competitive product.
- Led the mechanical redesign of an XYZ scanning platform, replacing a complex belt-driven system with a scalable direct-drive architecture.
- Reduced manufacturing cost by 26% (£16.8k to £12.5k) and assembly time by 33% through simplification and modular design principles.
- Automated CAD configuration and BOM generation processes, reducing engineering design time by 50% while supporting scalable machine variants.
- Redesigned over 70 components to improve accuracy, reliability and future product scalability.
Mechanical Design Engineer
Deepwater EU (Subsea Cathodic Protection)
Farnborough, Hampshire
05.2025 - 10.2025
- Organised time efficiently, delegated responsibility and prioritised workload, meeting all project milestone deadlines.
- Optimised existing mechanical designs for cost-effectiveness and manufacturability, reducing production costs by 15%.
- Proofread technical drawings, providing constructive feedback for improvement.
- Led design specification review, CAD best practices meetings, and brainstorming sessions to critically analyse models.
- Mentored junior CAD technicians in software, design for manufacture, and workflow processes.
- Utilised project management software tools (SolidWorks PDM) to track progress, create and optimise workflows, and communicate updates to all relevant parties.
Mechanical Design Engineer
Surelock McGill (Security & Defence)
Wokingham, Berkshire
07.2024 - 05.2025
- Facilitated design review meetings to present concepts and progress updates.
- Conducted rigorous testing of prototypes to validate designs and implement improvements based on findings.
- Adapted designs to meet changing market demands, technological advancements, tooling limitations, and tolerances.
- Utilised CAD software to create detailed engineering drawings and BIM models for complex electrical and mechanical components.
- Engineered advanced products adhering to ISO 9001 and BS8888 quality control and engineering drawing standards.
- Optimised existing product designs for manufacturability, enhancing production efficiency and reducing costs.
- Engineered a hydraulic rig for single-axis hinge testing compliant with BS EN 1935, capable of operating a door leaf weighing over 1 tonne for over 1 million operational cycles.
- Developed an EI120 certified bi-directional vision panel capable of withstanding 1100 degrees for two hours.
Mechanical Design Engineer
Barkers Engineering (Security & Defence)
Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire
10.2023 - 04.2024
- Communicated with clients and engineering managers and incorporated knowledge gained into technical drawings using AutoCAD & SOLIDWORKS.
- Performed calculations for materials and weight limits accurately for assigned projects.
- Provided technical support and advice to clients and internal stakeholders to deliver smooth and accurate information flows.
- Provided feedback on alterations to designs to meet client specifications. Prepared, reviewed and redrafted alongside engineering teams.
- Utilised understanding of spatial relationships, dimensional and technical drawings and mathematics to shape entities.
- Solved and provided support with technical challenges in structural designs.
- Reviewed projects at various stages to verify work conformance with contractual requirements.
- Revised illustrations for assembly, installation and technical manuals to latest specifications; such as ISO 1461, EN 12604 and ISO 9001.
Work Experience
KMF Sheet Metal and Precision Engineering
Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffordshire
07.2018 - 08.2018
- Conducted all engineering work as instructed by managers, finishing within set deadlines and to high-quality standards.
- Attended regular learning and development training to gain expertise in various engineering topics, techniques and best practices.
- Continuously developed engineering knowledge and skills by observing colleagues, attending training and practice.
- Selected proper tools and equipment to manufacture quality parts.
- Accurately executed written and verbal instructions, prints and work orders.
Education
BEng (Hons) - Mechanical Engineering
Lancaster University
Lancaster2023
NVQ Level 3 - Mechanical Enginneering
Newcastle-Under-Lyme College
Stoke-On-Trent2020
NVQ Level 2 - Practical Engineering Operations
Newcastle-Under-Lyme College
Stoke-on-Trent2018
GCSEs - 5+ GCSE's above Grade 5
Madeley High School
Crewe2017
Skills
- Drawing preparation
- CAD software proficiency
- Client specification interpretation
- Design detailing and development
- Project development
- Root cause analysis
- Design review facilitation
- Finite element analysis
- Client meeting organization and leadership
- Written and verbal communication
- Creative thinking
- 2D and 3D modeling
- Quality control
- Critical thinking
- Time management
- Continuous improvement strategies
- Design process enhancement
- ISO 9001 compliance
- Reverse engineering techniques
- Project management software expertise
PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS
- Collectively raised over £2000 for local children’s hospital as part of a charity boxing event alongside Crewe Amateur Boxing Club
- Raised over £50 for a good friend and former heart patient to compete in the 2013 World Transplant Games held in South Africa.
- Competed in BUCS representing Lancaster University for pool & darts.
- Team Captain in the Lancaster English Pool League Division 2.
- Full UK Driving License and personal transport
- 1st Degree Black belt holder in Shukokai Karate
- Represented the UK in the European Karate Championship.
Timeline
Mechanical Design Engineer
LG Motion (Robotics and Automation)
11.2025 - Current
Mechanical Design Engineer
Deepwater EU (Subsea Cathodic Protection)
05.2025 - 10.2025
Mechanical Design Engineer
Surelock McGill (Security & Defence)
07.2024 - 05.2025
Mechanical Design Engineer
Barkers Engineering (Security & Defence)
10.2023 - 04.2024
Work Experience
KMF Sheet Metal and Precision Engineering
07.2018 - 08.2018
BEng (Hons) - Mechanical Engineering
Lancaster University
NVQ Level 3 - Mechanical Enginneering
Newcastle-Under-Lyme College
NVQ Level 2 - Practical Engineering Operations
Newcastle-Under-Lyme College
GCSEs - 5+ GCSE's above Grade 5
Madeley High School