Mechanical Engineer - Design Authority

About the Company - Roxel is an Anglo-French Company that designs, develops and manufactures a range of solid propellant rocket motors for use in tactical missiles. Its operations are spread across several sites in the UK and France and it has an annual turnover of about £130M and nearly 900 staff. About the Role - The UK operations are entirely based at Summerfield, Kidderminster, where we have a requirement for a permanent Mechanical Engineer (Design Authority) reporting to the Design Authority Team Leader. The successful candidate will work as part of a team on projects spanning from concept design, demonstration, development, qualification and production, through to customer in-service support. 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 Design Authority is methodical and organised in their work and a ‘hands on’ approach to working is essential. Depending on experience, a successful candidate will be offered a position as either Lead or Senior Design Authority. Responsibilities 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. Adhering to EN9100 processes, in particular the RD2 process, understanding and sharing Technology Readiness Levels and Class of Difficulty Assessments. 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. 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. Qualifications - Candidates shall have a formal qualification (degree or equivalent preferred) in mechanical, aeronautical or related engineering discipline. Required Skills A sound understanding of engineering (mathematics, stressing, materials (metals and polymers) and manufacturing techniques). An interest and aptitude in both the theory and practical aspects of engineering. 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. Computer literate, Power Point, Excel, Word, etc. Excellent document/report writing skills. Assessment testing experience (e.g. structural testing, vibration, etc). Preferred Skills - Additional training will be provided for those areas where experience and key skills may be missing.