Lead Design & Development Engineer

Role purpose

• To lead a team of engineers and to be technically responsible for the products that you and your team are engineering
• To coordinate and ensure that engineering tasks and projects adhere to programme timings and to the right quality
• Provide technical guidance and co-ordination to the design team and to have technical sign off of engineering changes and design releases generated within your team
• To utilise, maintain and to support the use and development of a PDM system to aid the control, release and output of engineering data
• Support the Engineering Manager in the day to day running of your design engineering team
• Carry out aircraft seating design, investigation and concept engineering work utilising Catia V5
• Ensure that designs are carried out in accordance with the relevant EASA, FAA and Airframe Specifications
• Ensure the design meets the aesthetic and technical ambitions of the customer
• Be an effective communicator to ensure departmental requirements are met
• To liaise direct with customers, OEM’s, Aircraft Manufacturers and Key suppliers.
• Ensure Cost, weight and quality targets are monitored and achieved.
• Coordinate and participate in prototype builds.
• Manage DVP (design verification plan) to ensure all performance criteria are met to reduce warranty exposure.

Accountabilities

Accountable for the safe and reliable design of an aircraft seat across multiple programmes, On Time In Full and Right First Time.  Working with Engineering and Certification, ensure regulatory guidelines and requirements are met

Measurement Indicators

Meeting the customer brief in accordance with the programme delivery, weight, budget and available resource

Job responsibilities

• Defining, driving, planning, monitoring and controlling the design engineering team output to ensure achievement of the defined schedule and specification
• Lead and support direct reports with the design and development of the aircraft seat, including the checking of designs (including clash detection) and drawings (including tolerance stack assessment), raising and managing ECR’s, drawing sign off, ensuring accurate BOM output and authorising concessions.
• Excellent communication, planning and organisation skills are a requirement.
• Preparing for, managing and presenting internal and external engineering reviews on behalf of their team.
• Leading problem solving activities.
• To support the Engineering Manager in continuous improvement & best practice activities, including setting up systems, processes, tools to maximise the efficiency, quality of output and agility of the engineering team.
• Perform design activities of structural components, including metal, plastics and composite using Catia V5. Will undertake design studies and progress their own work through to production.  To perform fundamental engineering hand calculations (including stress and stiffness) to substantiate the design of the product.
• Liaise with the Stress team to analyse and resolve structural performance concerns
• Drive forward the development and certification of all seating products.  Including formulating DVP’s in collaboration with the Project Engineering function.
• Supporting the day to day supervision of direct reports.  This to include: Supporting regular 1-2-1 meetings, team meetings, timesheet authorisation, holiday approval, sickness/absence meetings, goal and objective setting, personal development plans & appraisal reviews.
• To also support the Engineering Manager with recruitment activities and IT requirements co-ordination activities for their direct reports.
• To liaise with the customer and airframe manufacturer to ensure all design requirements are understood and agreed.  To ensure an agreed technical direction can be manufactured.
• To liaise and develop relationships with key suppliers to successfully deliver technical solutions that adhere to our requirements, ensuring effective Design For Manufacture.
• Will be appraised of the latest technology and manufacturing processes.
• To liaise with all relevant Project Engineering and Certification teams to ensure all aspects of checking and approvals are met.
• Managing multiple projects in parallel to support the business needs.
• Job Challenges
• Being an effective communicator both internally and externally
• Designing products that meet external customer, structural and regulatory requirements. Internal customer requirements should be considered to ensure efficient build process and Poka yoke (error proofing).
• Leading the day to day functions of a busy engineering environment and confidently guiding the design team to meet the program milestones and final delivery
• To continually challenge manufacturing processes and materials to ensure innovation and continuous improvement is constantly being achieved.

Experience required
Essential

• Strong Mechanical or related Engineering degree
• Experience of leading/managing/supervising a team of engineers and demonstrable experience of technical product ownership
• Have extensive experience from an aviation, automotive or other relevant sector
• Extensive experience of a mechanical engineering related field utilising CAD for product definition.
• Must be capable of undertaking fundamental engineering hand calculations for example, stress analysis and reaction calculations
• The ability to analyse problems and recommend a course of action
• Sufficient exposure to the latest manufacturing techniques
• Extensive 3D CAD capability and experience, preferably Catia V5
• Must be an excellent communicator both verbally and written
• Must be capable of adapting to a fast and pressured environment
• PC literate

Desirable

• SmarTeam or other PDM experience
• Finite Element Analysis experience
• Experience in working within an Aviation seating sector
• MS Project experience and capability
• Experience of developing and implementing best practice methodologies

To apply please email your cv to David Seamons