R&D Engineer (Material Test)

Salary from; £37,022

Spirit AeroSystems designs and builds aerostructures for both commercial and defense customers. With headquarters in Wichita, Kansas, Spirit operates sites in the U.S., U.K., France, and Malaysia. The companys core products include fuselages, pylons, nacelles, and wing components for the worlds premier aircraft. Spirit AeroSystems focuses on affordable, innovative composite and aluminium manufacturing solutions to support customers around the globe.

The Opportunity

Spirit AeroSystems – where flight begins.

Spirit AeroSystems is actively developing technologies that will enable zero carbon emission flight. As our research in this field expands, we are growing the Prestwick team based at our state-of-the-art research and technology development facility, the Aerospace Innovation Centre (AIC). The AIC showcases Spirit’s distinctive capabilities as a global centre for design and digital manufacturing of current and future aircraft. Partnering with Universities, industry leaders, and the UK’s CATAPULT network the AIC is a focal point to collaborate, innovate, train and develop skills for today and tomorrow. Spirit is developing structures and systems technologies to enable our industries transition to net zero emissions.

This exciting opportunity requires candidates to work in an agile, diverse and fast paced environment developing cutting edge technologies for aerostructures and future fuels integration. The successful candidate will deliver R&T / R&D test support and integrate across our analysis, R&D, systems, and test teams in a rapid design, build and test environment. R&D areas of focus include metallics, composites, future fuels storage and integration, digital factory & harnessing new developments in IT. Diversity and inclusion are key to innovation. We are committed to fostering a culture where all employees can share their passions and ideas so we can tackle the toughest challenges in the industry.

Role Purpose

To develop and execute R&D project tasks to final technical delivery under the leadership of principal / senior engineers to complete tasks and / or small projects to high quality, ensuring schedule adherence and within allocated budget. To liaise with partners, technology providers and customers and collaborating on composite R&D small projects or tasks, providing detailed reports and presentations on activities undertaken. To develop and deliver new innovative R&D tasks related to composite materials and processes, design, stress analysis methods and tools, quality and inspection methodologies as well as structural solutions for future AeroStructures component and assembly products.

This opportunity, based at our Prestwick campus, offers:

• 37 hour working week (half day Friday).
• 33 days holiday per year, rising with service.
• Annual Bonus related to company performance.
• Defined contribution pension scheme (default contributions; 4 employee and 8 employer).
• Virtual GP Service 365 days per year.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• A wide range of flexible benefits.
• Death in service payment (default 4 times basic salary).
• Cycle To Work Scheme.
• Professional development and growth.
• A collaborative, dynamic working environment

• Executing tasks from scope definition to final task delivery in line with the agreed schedule, ensuring on time deliverables are achieved.
• Working under the leadership of principal / senior engineers to complete tasks to high quality, ensuring schedule adherence.
• Liaising with partners, technology providers and customers collaborating on composite R&D prgrammes, providing detail reports and input into final presentations of activities undertaken.
• Researching composite material related technologies and determining their potential application on the design, fabrication, verification and assembly of various structural wing components.
• Providing input into technical solutions on composite design, analysis, fabrication and assembly processes enabling reduced cost, robust quality and structural weight reduction.
• Executing tasks bespoke to fabrication, verification and assembly equipment and techniques providing cutting edge solutions to future wing aerostructures products.
• Adopting design of experiments and appropriate analytical methodologies to optimise material performance and fabrication process robustness (DSE, DMA, microscopic investigation, Darcy laws, permeability measurement).
• Developing and compiling test tasks for sub-element testing of features of the structures design that will feed into the certification of the composite component.
• Prepare reports on task results, composite material requirements document and the subsequent test evaluation of the materials based on either customer and / or Spirit proprietary processes.
• Liaising with equipment suppliers in the development of computer controlled visual detection inspection tools enabling quality assessment without the need for human interference through a thorough understanding of the composite fabrication process and their quality.
• Undertaking metrology inspection techniques that will identify and verify composite component fabrication compliance.
• Adopting process, assembly and factory flow modelling, introducing robotic systems that will allow repeatability of process whilst maintaining NRC models that reflect the programme complexity.
• Ensuring compliance of Spirit Proprietary technologies against Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) and / or Technology Readiness Level (TRL) approaches.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Knowledge in composite and or metallic related technologies ideally in a research and development environment
• Applied know-how in one or more of the following composite related disciplines: composite design, analysis, material and fabrication, testing, assembly and quality inspection processes
• Good understanding of composite and metallics mechanical and physical behaviours
• Relevant experience in planning, developing and leading small tasks to agreed time, quality and costs
• Relevant experience in working under minimal guidance of principal / senior engineers to complete robust task scope with robust schedule adherence
• Relevant background in technology integration
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing skills and a team working "ethos"
• Excellent problem solving and presentation skills
• Excellent problem solving and analytical skills are essential for this role
• Excellent organisational and planning skills
• Self-driven, professional approach with a "can-do" attitude to innovation
• A good grasp of Microsoft packages such as Word, Excel and Outlook is required
• Desirable - MSc in Aerospace / Mechanical Engineering, material polymer science and / or equivalent relevant degree / experience required

Decision Making Authority

• The jobholder would receive technical direction from the senior composite development engineer prior to making final decisions. It is anticipated however that the jobholder would have completed a task technical plan that encompasses all the relevant information for the final decision to be given.
• The jobholder shall plan, cost and schedule the task with input / guidance from the principal / senior composite engineer with authority to take it to completion.
• The jobholder may order small consumables to complete the project within the bounds of the agreed budget and under the guidance of the principal / senior composite engineer.
• The jobholder would be expected to take authority in ensuring that the relevant inputs to the tasks are maintained and realized.

We are looking for people who want to make a difference, talented team members with the skills and passion to become the best at what they do.

Closing Date; Monday, 9th June at 12pm

Spirit AeroSystems is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, colour, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected factor under federal, state or local law.