About the Company
R.A Jones is a global leader in the design and manufacturing of primary and secondary packaging, we specialize in beverage, chemical, consumer goods, dairy, food and pharmaceutical industries.
Our business portfolio encompasses a wide range of innovative solutions for applications in aerosol, cartoning, chub packing, cup filling, multipacking and pouching. We strive to continuously expand our offerings and enhance our capabilities to meet the evolving needs of our customers.
For more detailed information about R.A Jones and its comprehensive business landscape, please visit www.rajones.com.
R.A Jones is part of Coesia, a group of innovation-based industrial and packaging solutions companies operating globally, headquartered in Bologna, Italy.
Coesia operates in 34 countries with 21 different companies and employs over 8,000 people as of 2026.
About the Role
We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Mechanical Designer to join our engineering team inside an innovative manufacturer of automated packaging machines. In this role, you will be involved in the design and development of complex filling and packaging machinery.
Main responsabilities will include:
- Mechanical Design: Design new parts or upgrade existing project with the full design lifecycle of packaging machine modules — from concept and 3D modelling to detailed drawings, BOM management, and drawing release — ensuring manufacturability, reliability, and ease of maintenance. Support the Operation Dept. in supply assembly drawing and explain functioning of the parts.
- PDM / Vault Management: work inside an environment using and maintain the CAD data management platform (SolidWorks PDM Vault), ensuring proper file versioning, revision control, access permissions, and structured release workflows across the engineering team.
- Design Automation: Develop and maintain parametric models, design tables, and automated drawing generation workflows to accelerate variant configuration and reduce engineering lead times.
- Kinematics & Cinematics: Design and validate mechanical kinematic systems (cams, linkages, servo-driven axes) and produce detailed machine cinematics — motion studies, timing diagrams, and dynamic simulations — to verify cycle performance and interference clearances before prototyping.
- FEM Analysis: Perform Finite Element Analysis on critical structural and dynamic components (frames, shafts, sealing jaws, guideways) to verify stiffness, fatigue life, and deformation under operational loads, using results to drive design iterations.
- Cross-functional Collaboration: Work alongside automation and controls engineers to integrate mechanical assemblies with servo systems, pneumatics, and electrical routing; participate in design reviews and DFMEA sessions.
- Manufacturing Support: Provide technical guidance to production and assembly teams; manage engineering change orders and design deviations through the change-control process.
- Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve machine performance, reduce cost, and shorten development cycles
Key Information
- Location: The working site will be near Bologna.
- Reporting: This position reports to the Engineering Manager who is currently officed in UK
- Travel: There should be no restrictions to travel.
- Collaboration: Works in close collaboration with Automation Manager, Mechanical Design, Manufacturing, and Project Management teams.
What You Need to Be Successful
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or equivalent. Candidates with a strong technical diploma combined with extensive field experience in precision mechanical workshops will also be considered.
- At Least 10 or more years of proven professional experience in mechanical design of automated machinery, with a clear track record of delivering complex projects end-to-end. Prior experience in the filling or packaging industry, (dosing system, liquid filling or aerosol) is highly preferred.
- Expert-level command of a major 3D CAD platform (preferred SolidWorks and AUTOCAD for Layout, schemes etc..); proficiency in design automation tool, experience for BOM and document management.
- Hands-on experience designing kinematic mechanisms and producing machine cinematics; familiarity with multi-body dynamics tools (SolidWorks Motion, or equivalent).
- Practical FEA capability using integrated CAD solvers (SolidWorks Simulation, ANSYS, or Nastran); experience with static, modal, fatigue, and contact analyses for packaging machine components.
- Solid knowledge tolerance stack-up analysis, and machine safety principles (Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC). Understanding of hygienic design standards (EHEDG, 3-A), and ATEX is a plus. Good knowledge of pneumatics is critical with a basic electric skill set would be preferred
- Analytical and problem-solving mindset; strong attention to detail; ability to manage multiple projects independently and communicate technical concepts clearly to both engineering peers and non-technical stakeholders. Flexible to travel worldwide, to audit, collate information to provide effective feedback for machinery upgrades.
- Microsoft Office programs, Excel, PPT, ERP acknowledge and familiarity with tool for projects management.
- Proficiency in both Italian and English (written and spoken) is required.
Job Reference: CGS13301
