Senior Structural Engineer

Senior Structural Analysis Engineer

We have an opportunity available for an exceptional senior structural analysis engineer, to work within QinetiQ's Farnborough-based Structural Analysis & Optimisation capability.

The Structural Analysis team uses advanced finite element-based structural analysis codes - supported by classical analytical methods - to simulate the response of complex, and often novel, materials and structures in challenging, real-world environments.

The team supports projects across the whole of QinetiQ and for customers in most technical domains, including air, maritime, weapons, land and space. Activities range from conventional stress analysis services through to the development and application of novel simulation methods to develop products, de-risk high-value test activities, inform safety cases and evaluate scenarios that would not be feasible to test.

With close links into many technical areas across QinetiQ and customers in the UK and abroad, this is an exciting opportunity for a skilled structural analyst with a desire to work in multi-disciplinary teams and contribute to a broad range of programmes of national and international significance.

Examples of recent and current activities within the team include:

• Assessment of collisions between small ‘drones' and crewed aircraft, using a combination of validated simulation methods and full-scale testing;
• Development and validation of simulation methods to evaluate the effect of emerging directed energy laser weapons on target structures;
• De-risking the development of large composite structures for major UK maritime programmes;
• Supporting the development of novel technologies for the UK's TEMPEST programme;
• Exploring potential failure scenarios associated with complex Replenishment At Sea operations;
• Structural analysis of QinetiQ's electric drive products for military vehicles;
• Providing structures advice to inform the development of high-performance airframes;
• Evaluating failure of composite structures under a wide variety of static and dynamic loading conditions;
• Development and qualification of the Paveway IV Tactical Penetrator product variant;
• Creation of bespoke material models and simulation methods for novel materials;
• De-risking complex rocket-sled trials at QinetiQ's Long Test Track;
• Developing and supporting QinetiQ's ion thruster products that are currently powering the Bepicolombo mission to Mercury;
• Development of loads and mass estimation methods to aid the conceptual design of future air vehicles, and;
• Supporting the development of products and assurance of designs for a wide range of QinetiQ projects.

About the role

A successful applicant will join QinetiQ's Structural Analysis team in Farnborough and will work on a portfolio of projects, alongside other members of the team and colleagues from across the business. Whilst the majority of the work is anticipated to be Farnborough-based, occasional off-site working is possible. Current operations include provision for home-working and this may continue, though it is not guaranteed and may not be possible for all projects.

As an experienced and motivated senior structural analysis engineer, you will be expected to manage your time effectively. This will include providing support and leadership to others as well as taking responsibility for technical delivery to time, cost and quality.

You will report to the Capability Team Lead and also into relevant project/programme leads. It is expected that you will take-on a technical leadership role for some project activities, but also collaborate as a team member for others. Regardless of your responsibilities on each project, you will be using your experience to develop colleagues through positive co-operation, whilst recognising and using the unique skills of others to maximise benefits to our customers and capability.

The exact nature of your role will depend upon your skills and experience. Whilst this is a technical position, there are also opportunities to support the team's customer-facing and business winning activities as well as contributing to capability development and engineering governance functions within the organisation.

Essential skills and qualifications include:

• Skilled in structural analysis, including analytical and numerical stress analysis;
• Expert in finite element modelling methods, ideally using ABAQUS;
• Experienced in planning and leading projects, including engaging with stakeholders;
• Confident and able to work at pace on projects that include combinations of novel research/methods development and applied engineering;
• Proven analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Broad knowledge of adjacent technical areas such as design, manufacturing, materials, aerodynamics/hydrodynamics and signature management.
• Able to write high quality technical reports;
• Organised and delivery-focussed, taking pride in your work;
• Collaborative and team-player;
• Degree in a related discipline e.g. Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or similar;
• Must hold, or be eligible to hold a UK SC security clearance.

Desirable skills/experience include:

It is expected that candidates will have at least some of the following skills/experience:

• Experience in:
  • Analysis of composite structures, including progressive damage in multiple failure modes;
  • Development and calibration of bespoke material models/sub-routines to simulate complex materials behaviours;
  • Dynamic-explicit analysis methods, including impact modelling;
  • Structural dynamics and vibration analysis and testing;
  • Aero-elastic analysis;
  • Thermal analysis, including transient heat flow;
  • Structural optimisation;
  • Creation of semi-automated workflows, including use of tools such as Isight;
• Confident presenting technical information to a variety of audiences customers and audiences of all levels;
• Commercial awareness and experience of bidding;
• Experience identifying and working with Standards;
• Skills in programming languages such as VBA, Python or FORTRAN;
• Skills in the development of CAD models using Solidworks.

Domain experience:

The team operates across multiple technical domains so technical capability is more important than domain experience. However, experience in aerospace, space or weapons domains would be beneficial.

Why join QinetiQ?

As we continue to grow into new markets around the world, there's never been a more exciting time to join QinetiQ. The formula for success is our appetite for innovation and having the courage to take on a wide variety of complex challenges.

You'll experience a unique working environment where teams from different backgrounds, disciplines and experience enjoy collaborating widely and openly as we undertake this exciting and rewarding journey. Through effective teamwork, and pulling together, you'll get to experience what happens when we all share different perspectives, blend disciplines, and link technologies; constantly discovering new ways of solving complex problems in an diverse and inclusive environment where you can be authentic, feel valued and realise your full potential. Read more about our diverse and inclusive workplace culture here.

Joining QinetiQ offers you an opportunity to work on a broad range of interesting defence-based projects with vast career progression across a global organisation in addition to competitive personal and professional benefits. You'll receive a highly competitive salary and benefits package: our basic salaries are very attractive as we constantly review what's happening in the market. The range of benefits that we offer include, adaptive and flexible working, generous holiday entitlements, Health Cash Plan, Private Medical Insurance and Dental Insurance and much more.

About QinetiQ

As a company of over 6,000 dedicated professionals, we are a world-centre of excellence in research and development and act as a catalyst for fast-track innovation, offering outstanding experimentation facilities, and technical, engineering and scientific expertise. QinetiQ is made up of dedicated experts in defence, aerospace, security and related markets, all working together to explore new ways of protecting what matters most. Being part of QinetiQ means being central to the safety and security of the world around us. Partnering with our customers, we help to save lives; reduce risks to society; and maintain the global infrastructure on which we all depend. Come and find out how you can play a role.

Please note that many roles in QinetiQ are subject to national security vetting. Applicants that already hold the appropriate level of vetting may be able to transfer it upon appointment, subject to approval. A number of roles are also subject to restrictions on access to information that mean factors such as nationality, previous nationalities held and the country in which you were born may have an effect on the roles that you can be employed in.