Mechanical Engineer (ME18) Birmingham, England
An exciting opportunity to join a global leading manufacturing company based in the Midlands
Responsibilities
The successful candidate will work as part of a team on projects spanning from design concept, demonstration, development, qualification and production, through to customer support. A methodical and organised approach to work will be essential.
The design work involves pressure vessel design integrated with precision machined components in a wide variety of materials, both metallic and non-metallic, natural or synthetic. Tooling design will include special purpose equipment used in all stages of the manufacture, assembly and testing of a solid propellant rocket motor.
Rocket motors combine in one system many diverse scientific and engineering principles. The motor structure must be lightweight yet able to resist the extreme pressures and temperatures associated with propellant combustion. The operational environments are equally severe combining extremes of temperature, mechanical vibration and shock. Although specialist engineers support the Design Authorities, this role offers a unique and stimulating opportunity for engineers willing and able to broaden their knowledge and experience.
A ‘hands on’ approach to working will be essential.
Specific responsibilities of the Design Authority include but not limited to the following:
- Managing design evolution to meet customer requirements.
- Responsibility for clearance of detail production drawings, ensuring conformance to BS8888 and manufacturability.
- Leading and completing DFMEA’s.
- Approving production processes and tooling.
- Demonstrating compliance with customer requirements.
- Specifying and reviewing structural, thermal and ballistic analyses.
- Reviewing key suppliers methods of manufacture and control procedures.
- Specifying, monitoring and reporting rocket motor trials.
- Leading trials readiness reviews.
- Producing and delivering formal technical presentations to the customer.
- Producing product technical specifications and detailed technical reports.
- Ensuring appropriate validation testing is carried out prior to formal qualifications.
- Leading formal design reviews at the relevant design phases and ensuring actions are taken and completed on time.
- Responsible for design and production certification and producing a Certificate of Design for the rocket motor.
- Customer technical interface leading on all technical matters with the missile prime contractor (e.g. MBDA, Thales, SAAB) and the end user (e.g. MoD, DGA).
- Leading technical investigations.
- Liaison at all levels within the business, manufacturers and suppliers.
- Arranging/managing specific trials such as structural testing, rocket motor firings, laboratory scale testing (quantitative testing of materials, etc).
- Dis-assembly/assessment of fired rocket motor hardware.
These responsibilities require close liaison and understanding with Roxel specialists in CAD design, stress analysis, thermal analysis, ballistic analysis, solid propellants, materials, trials, production engineering and project management.
Requirements
Candidates shall have a formal qualification (HNC, HND or degree) in mechanical, aeronautical or related engineering discipline.
Candidates applying would have a willingness and determination to learn to enable them to have a long prosperous career in rocket motors.
Key attributes include the following:
- A sound understanding of engineering (mathematics, stressing, fluids, materials (metals and polymers) and manufacturing techniques).
- An interest and aptitude in both the theory and practical aspects of engineering and in particular rocket motor design.
- An ability to assimilate and evaluate technical information from a wide range of disciplines.
- Attention to detail is paramount.
- An ability to present complex problems clearly and logically to other specialist and non specialist engineers.
- Communicate and work effectively with other technical specialists.
- A good understanding of DFMEA, ‘Design to Cost’ and ‘Design for Manufacture’ principles.
- Be able to communicate and work well with the customer to meet their requirements and timescales.
- Good organisational skills and work well under pressure.
- Computer literate, Power Point, Excel, Word, etc (essential).
- Excellent document/report writing skills.
- Working within a defence related industry
- Trials/assessment testing experience (e.g. structural testing, vibration, etc).