Alex Cawthorne

MECHANICAL ENGINEER

Skills Overview

Alex is a hardworking and versatile Engineer with a consulting background and significant experience in SolidWorks CAD design. Prior to working at Caliber, Alex was an Engineer at an SME consulting firm in Sheffield, UK, working in design and analysis projects over a variety of different sectors including Nuclear Decommissioning, Temporary Structures, Bridges, and Water Control Structures. This broad sector exposure has given Alex an opportunity to excel at problem solving, transferring engineering fundamentals between different sectors. Alex also has experience in project management, being responsible for issuing quotations and invoicing, hosting workshops, and delivering final work packages to clients.

STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS & DESIGN – Alex has previous experience in structural analysis and design of temporary aluminium access platforms, heavy structures used for pile test rigs, and bespoke design of stainless steel trolleys used by Rolls Royce Submarines. His quick and thorough analysis of a temporary access platform allowed the client to complete the intended work before the winter period.
CAD & DRAFTING – Alex has extensive experience using SolidWorks having spent 1.5 years working at a Value Added reseller in the UK. Alex continued to use SolidWorks whilst working in a consulting firm and made use of his experience to communicate prototypes quickly to clients and detailed designs to manufacturers. Alex also has worked on multiple projects where he has delivered manufacturing and GA drawings as part of the final deliverable.
MACHINE DESIGN – Alex has experience in machine design within the nuclear sector. He has worked on prototype designs for a remote lid removal grab, modifications to an existing crushing machine, and a long-reach modular arm. Alex was extensively involved in the early stages of the long-reach manipulator, authoring the analysis and assessment document and working closely with key stakeholders to understand the requirements of the arm.
ANALYSIS – Alex has experience with engineering calculations and design codes carrying out verification checks in different sectors including Nuclear and temporary structures. Alex led and delivered a design verification calculations for the main client on behalf of a smaller company due to the alteration in the client’s internal design standards. During this project, original issues with the calculation were discovered and rectified following Alex’s involvement.

Caliber Design has experience in the Biofuel industry

PERSONAL STATEMENT

I completed my MEng (Hons) at the University of Sheffield, UK which included a year’s placement at a Value-Added Reseller of SolidWorks where I picked up a number of different certifications across the software package. I then went on to spend several years at Eadon Consulting as a Senior Engineer. Within the role, I picked up new experience in the structural sector working on infrastructure projects for HS2 (Britain’s new high-speed railway) and bespoke designs for Rolls Royce Subs. I completed a great deal of projects in the nuclear decommissioning sector, and enjoyed working on a R&D long-reach modular arm whilst at Eadon.

I find understanding how things work and solving problems in challenging sectors extremely satisfying. I also really enjoy visiting sites whilst working on projects, especially to see the CAD models in real life! I have been fortunate enough to visit Sellafield during a nuclear project and even been suspended from the cables of the Severn Bridge on the platform I helped design and analyse!

Outside of work, I spend as much time as possible enjoying natures playground filling my days with outdoor activities such as hiking, running, and (attempting!) to surf. Having moved to New Zealand from the UK, I love exploring new places and landscapes in this nature rich country.

Project Experience

VRS Freezer, APK Holding

Extensive design of access platforms and structural systems for a large industrial freezer used within the food processing industry. Proded manufacturing drawings for sheet metal and structural fabrication under a tight deadline.

SELLAFIELD

REACH (Remote Extendable Access Characterisation and Handling) System

Responsible for the management and mentorship of graduate engineers whilst supporting the project director during a large team project developing an R&D Decommissioning System to an innovative way to fast track the site-wide decommissioning process, reducing the mis-characterisation of waste and reducing the overall environmental impact. Understood stakeholder needs through workshopes and presented them through a comprehensive Basis of Design document, outlining how the system would meet both generic and client-specific design standards.

URENCO

OHTC Replacement

Carried out an independent check, acting as on behalf of Urenco UK as an intelligent customer, of a series of engineering substantiation calculations to BS EN 13001 for the replacement of an Overhead Travelling Crane at a uranium enrichment facility

ALPS

Second Severn Bridge ASF Platform

Detail oriented structural check of two Aluminium Space Frame platforms, serving as temporary access platforms suspended underneath the Second Severn Bridge. The assessment adhered to Eurocodes (BS EN 1993 & 1999) and BS EN 1808. Collaborated with the client to ensure the design was verified and the installation and works were completed in the summer, well before the winter deadline. Utilised STAAD to analyse and assess the structure, with use of supporting hand calculations to determine bespoke loading conditions.

SKANSKA

HS2 Pile Test Rig

Project Lead for independent verification and design of two different testing rig arrangements for the largest infrastructure project in the UK. Performed an array of calculations for loading conditions up to 40MN and ANSYS mechanical simulations to design and assess the integrity of a variety of different structural components, providing a detailed design package, reports, and GA Drawings.

GOOD BUGGER AWARD

July 2025

Since stepping into a technically complex and fast-paced project environment at FSL, Alex has consistently delivered high-quality work under pressure, earning praise from the client as one of the best designers they’ve worked with. His calm, solutions-focused approach, strong technical capability, and willingness to support others have made a tangible difference to the team and strengthened Caliber’s reputation.