Principal Engineer – Head of Capability: Structural Analysis - Element Digital Engineering in Bristol

As our Head of Capability, Structures, you will use your 10+ years of experience and knowledge to shape, maintain and lead the development of our structural analysis capability. Your experience across various industries will also enable you, as one of our Principal Engineers, to guide a variety of structural analysis projects, mentor less experienced engineers, as well as to act as approver for documents and analysis delivered to our clients. The position is based in our Bristol or Derby UK offices, although hybrid and flexible working arrangements within the UK can be made available. This position would suit someone who is passionate about structural analysis and the benefits that these services offer to our clients and their engineering programmes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of our in-house structural analysis capability, including coaching and development of more junior staff members.
• Develop and maintain a capability roadmap (people, tools, techniques) to ensure our capability offering continually develops and remains market competitive in line with industry developments.
• Support the development and implementation of technical standards, policies, and frameworks, ensuring consistency and quality across all engineering outputs in this field.
• Support and lead business development activities with a range of new and existing clients, including sourcing leads, generating proposals and sharing Element work through conferences and publications.
• Provide support to and oversight of proposals/bids to ensure the most effective and efficient methodology is deployed.
• Support/lead top level technical discussions with customers and partners on specific subject matter topics.
• Carry out a range of technical projects and analyses to support client needs and deliverables.
• Perform document reviews and approvals as required.
• Integrate and engage with our positive team culture with adherence to Element's core values - care, integrity, and progress.

We are looking for people who:

• Have a Bachelor's degree (grade 2.1 or above), Master's degree or PhD in a relevant engineering, science or applied mathematics discipline.
• Preferably have experience in the application of structural analysis from first principles or in accordance with relevant standards.
• Have a thorough understanding of engineering material behaviour, thermo-mechanical fatigue, fracture and crack propagation, and the modelling of contact behaviour.
• Have a track record on defining and delivering projects involving structural design, stress analysis, structural durability, and fracture mechanics.
• Possess significant knowledge of widely used analysis tools, including ANSYS, Abaqus, NASTRAN, or Calculix with a demonstrable ability to extend their capability using user functions where necessary.
• Ideally be proficient in the use of programming languages such as Python, MATLAB, VBA, C# or C/C++.
• Have familiarity with relevant structural integrity assessment and design codes.
• Have the confidence to lead the development and growth of our structural capability, working effectively as part of a technically innovative and multi-disciplinary technical team.
• Have experience in technically supporting the development of junior team members and other leaders.
• Be motivated to provide exceptional customer interaction and contribute to the wider business development of the company.
• Ideally be able to demonstrate a strong business network within highly regulated industries.
• Hold Chartered Engineer (or equivalent) status or be actively working towards chartership status.

Element Digital Engineering is a leading provider of specialist engineering simulation, design, and consultancy support to clients across many industries – including Nuclear, Aerospace, Energy and Defence – in the UK and internationally. Our technical work covers everything from using experienced judgement, simple hand calculations and static FEA, through to detailed 3D dynamic and shock analyses. We are always mindful of the need to use the appropriate level of analysis fidelity and a suitable approach so that we produce practical solutions for our clients.

Diversity Statement: At Element, we always take pride in putting our people first. We are an equal opportunity employer that recognises diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our Vision of becoming 'the world's most trusted testing partner'. All suitably qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective work-related criteria and without regard for age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, race, religion, responsibility of dependents, sexual orientation, or gender identity or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws.