Senior Engineer

Salary: £46,485 to £49,250 with progression to £55,295 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 05 January 2025

The Role

Based within Newcastle University's School of Mechanical and Systems Engineering, Design Unit is an established (since 1970), large research and consultancy group specialising in mechanical power transmissions. With an experienced team of over 20 Engineers and Technicians and extensive, dedicated facilities, Design Unit offers a complete service from design, through to manufacture, metrology, performance evaluation and failure analysis. Continued growth in research supporting Industry involved in power generation, aerospace and automotive applications requires the recruitment of a Senior Engineer.

We are seeking an experienced engineering professional to provide a high level of technical expertise and leadership in Mechanical Design supporting Design Unit research, consultancy services, engagement and teaching activities in the field of mechanical engineering targeted at mechanical power transmission systems. You will bring your past experience to join a motivated team undertaking Industry focussed research supporting the development of electrification drive solutions (EDUs) for the automotive sector.

Our ideal candidate will have significant expertise in the development and application of specialist mechanical power transmission solutions for novel mechanical machines combined with electrical drives. You will be experienced in developing and leading on performance testing of complex mechanical power transmissions and be able to support wider engineering applications. You will be able to communicate clearly both orally and in writing on technical issues to both non-specialists and senior engineers. You will be able to persuade, motivate and lead and be customer focussed.

You must be able to undertake occasional travel and work unsupervised at customer sites and be prepared to supervise other Design Unit staff at Design Unit and client premises.

Our preferred candidate will hold a degree (ideally PhD) in a relevant subject or equivalent qualifications/experience, plus comprehensive work experience, with a significant proportion in a relevant/scientific role.

This post will be offered as an open ended contract and the starting salary will be determined based on the successful applicant's qualifications and relevant experience.

Informal enquiries can be made to Professor Brian Shaw via email: # or telephone # # ; alternatively or to Mr Ian Sewell, Deputy Director, email # / # # .

ncl.ac.uk/gears/about/

Key Accountabilities

-To initiate, develop and project manage activities in the field of specialisation, including costing proposals, report preparation and delivery
-To provide high level specialist expertise across Design Unit activities requiring mechanical design and stress analysis
-Make a significant contribution to the development of research and engagement through applying mechanical design and stress analysis techniques in the field of mechanical power transmissions
-Conceive new opportunities and approaches in the field of mechanical power testing for application to mechanical power transmission research and engagement
-Initiate and develop ideas/approaches and novel techniques supporting the development of rotating machinery
-Promote and deliver innovative solutions to the Director of the Design Unit and/or customers
-Present research methodologies and findings at national/international level and contribute to the research and academic mission of Design Unit
-Develop and deliver academic/industrial teaching/training opportunities in the field of expertise

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

-Experienced engineering professional with substantial technical expertise with specific experience in mechanical power transmission applications, ideally with relevant Industry work experience
-Expertise in the development and application of specialist solutions for mechanical engineering applications with a focus on power transmission component analysis applied to rotating machinery
-Able to deliver gear design and associated machine elements from concept to detailed manufacturing requirements leading to compete gearbox solutions
-Expert understanding of ISO, DIN and AGMA gear design procedures and gear stress analysis techniques and an understanding of gear failure modes and investigative techniques
-Well-developed understanding of relevant current health and safety regulations and procedures
-An proven ability to undertake general mechanical design (e.g. use of Autodesk Inventor) and experience in the use and application of FEM (e.g. use of Ansys)
-Knowledge of wide-ranging gearing applications and an appreciation of gear manufacturing issues and problem solving
-Understanding of University and external grant/Industrial funding routes and a proven track record of developing successful funding bids
-Established analytical, technical and problem-solving capability
-Able to plan and prioritise workload and to work quickly and accurately to deadlines
-Ability to work flexibly and co-operatively and to communicate effectively

Attributes and Behaviour

Financial

-You will be expected to effectively manage the budget for projects running under their control leading to timely and cost-effective project completions
-Providing costing and pricing advice linked to the development of new grant proposals/industrial tenders
-Responsibility for managing cumulative annual budgets of typically up to £300k
Customers Internal

-Director of Design Unit, other colleagues within Design Unit, academic staff and students
External

-Funding bodies, industrial collaborators and academic collaborators
Planning and Organising

-Responsibility for the strategic development of the field of specialisation and associated facilities within Design Unit. This includes growing expertise in this field to support other Design Unit research and engagement activities and to enable the development of new funding opportunities leading to income generation
-You will plan and organise the activities required for running projects under their control
-Forward planning will be undertaken annually, projecting 1 year ahead to detail how the area of expertise will develop and continue to generate new funded opportunities for research and engagement in order to sustain staffing and facility requirements. This will feed into the overall long term Design Unit strategy and future planning undertaken by the Director of Design Unit

Decision Making

-As a Senior Engineering member of Design Unit, the post holder is expected to take strategic decisions in their field of expertise in support of research and engagement activities

-Required to make decisions independently on a daily basis with consideration, when appropriate, to involve the Director of Design Unit. This includes taking decisions related to resource requirements and allocation, spend profiling and re-profiling against budget and updating of scheduled timescales, as required
-Decides on and actions priorities and activities in their field of expertise, referring matters requiring Director of Design Unit attention

Internal and External Relationships

-Supporting/supervising/mentoring internal colleagues within Design Unit and the wider University where their expertise is required
-Providing expertise to external industrial and academic collaborators
-Represent Design Unit in contacts with various organisations outside the University
-Expected to be outward facing and have the ability to work effectively to understand and meet the needs of industrial collaborators
-Act as a primary point of contact for their area of expertise

Qualifications

-Degree (PhD preferrable) in a relevant Engineering subject or equivalent qualifications/experience, plus comprehensive work experience, with a significant proportion in a relevant engineering/scientific role

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.

Requisition ID: 27808

#LI-LF1

We are seeking an experienced engineering professional to provide a high level of technical expertise and leadership in Mechanical Design supporting Design Unit research, consultancy services, engagement and teaching activities in the field of mechanical engineering targeted at mechanical power transmission systems. You will bring your past experience to join a motivated team undertaking Industry focussed research supporting the development of electrification drive solutions (EDUs) for the automotive sector.

Our ideal candidate will have significant expertise in the development and application of specialist mechanical power transmission solutions for novel mechanical machines combined with electrical drives. You will be experienced in developing and leading on performance testing of complex mechanical power transmissions and be able to support wider engineering applications. You will be able to communicate clearly both orally and in writing on technical issues to both non-specialists and senior engineers. You will be able to persuade, motivate and lead and be customer focussed.

You must be able to undertake occasional travel and work unsupervised at customer sites and be prepared to supervise other Design Unit staff at Design Unit and client premises.

Our preferred candidate will hold a degree (ideally PhD) in a relevant subject or equivalent qualifications/experience, plus comprehensive work experience, with a significant proportion in a relevant/scientific role.

This post will be offered as an open ended contract and the starting salary will be determined based on the successful applicant's qualifications and relevant experience., Experienced engineering professional with substantial technical expertise with specific experience in mechanical power transmission applications, ideally with relevant Industry work experience
-Expertise in the development and application of specialist solutions for mechanical engineering applications with a focus on power transmission component analysis applied to rotating machinery
-Able to deliver gear design and associated machine elements from concept to detailed manufacturing requirements leading to compete gearbox solutions
-Expert understanding of ISO, DIN and AGMA gear design procedures and gear stress analysis techniques and an understanding of gear failure modes and investigative techniques
-Well-developed understanding of relevant current health and safety regulations and procedures
-An proven ability to undertake general mechanical design (e.g. use of Autodesk Inventor) and experience in the use and application of FEM (e.g. use of Ansys)
-Knowledge of wide-ranging gearing applications and an appreciation of gear manufacturing issues and problem solving
-Understanding of University and external grant/Industrial funding routes and a proven track record of developing successful funding bids
-Established analytical, technical and problem-solving capability
-Able to plan and prioritise workload and to work quickly and accurately to deadlines
-Ability to work flexibly and co-operatively and to communicate effectively, Degree (PhD preferrable) in a relevant Engineering subject or equivalent qualifications/experience, plus comprehensive work experience, with a significant proportion in a relevant engineering/scientific role

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.

Salary: £46,485 to £49,250 with progression to £55,295 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.