At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead aerospace product design and provide expert analysis in FEA and CFD.
- Company: Join a leading aerospace manufacturing business in Fareham.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, technical influence, and opportunities for career growth.
- Other info: Become a key technical authority and support a dynamic engineering team.
- Why this job: Take ownership of complex projects and make a real impact in aerospace engineering.
- Qualifications: Degree in Mechanical Engineering and significant aerospace experience required.
Are you an experienced Principal Mechanical Engineer or Senior Mechanical Design Engineer with a strong background in aerospace engineering, FEA/CFD and pressure systems? Do you enjoy taking technical ownership of complex products, leading design activity and providing specialist engineering support across the full product lifecycle? We're supporting a leading aerospace manufacturing business in Fareham who are looking to recruit a Principal Mechanical Engineer Aerospace to join their Engineering team. This is a senior technical opportunity where you'll take responsibility for product design from initial interpretation of customer specifications through concept, manufacture and installation, while becoming a key technical authority for FEA and CFD within the business.
What's the role all about? As the Principal Mechanical Engineer, you'll take technical ownership of aerospace products and projects, ensuring designs meet customer specifications, performance requirements and engineering standards. You'll provide specialist expertise in fluid mechanics, pressure systems, FEA and CFD, conducting analysis to verify product integrity and performance. Alongside your technical responsibilities, you'll support the wider Engineering team, participate in design reviews, work directly with customers and provide technical guidance to Production and Quality. You'll also deputise for the Engineering Manager when required, making this an excellent opportunity for an experienced engineer looking for greater technical responsibility and influence.
Key responsibilities
- Take responsibility for product design from interpretation of customer requirements through to manufacture and installation
- Analyse products to ensure design integrity and performance specifications are achieved
- Establish and perform FEA and CFD analysis applicable to aerospace products
- Act as a technical focal point for FEA/CFD and provide guidance to other engineering users
- Conduct and participate in technical design reviews throughout the project lifecycle
- Perform Engineering Contract Reviews
- Act as an Aerospace Approval Signatory for applicable product categories
- Provide technical support to Production and Quality teams, including MRB decisions
- Provide technical support to Sales and Applications teams
- Work directly with customers to resolve technical requirements and engineering challenges
- Monitor and control project and unit costs against agreed budgets and profitability targets
- Liaise with Sales, Manufacturing, Quality, Purchasing, Estimating and subcontractors
- Deputise for the Engineering Manager when required
What you'll need
To succeed in this role, you'll bring:
- Degree in Mechanical Engineering
- Significant mechanical engineering experience within an aerospace environment
- Experience working with precision-machined aerospace components
- Strong understanding of fluid mechanics and pressure systems
- Proven experience carrying out FEA and CFD analysis
- Competence using Autodesk CFD
- Strong mathematical and analytical capability
- Project management experience
- Ability to produce clear and detailed technical reports
- Strong customer-facing and communication skills
- Full UK driving licence
Technical experience
Experience with the following would be particularly relevant:
- ANSYS FEA
- Autodesk CFD
- Autodesk Inventor
- 3D Solid Modelling
- Fluid mechanics
- Pressure systems
- Precision-machined components
- Mathcad / TK Solver
- Microsoft Project
- Design verification and analysis
Desirable
Technical Engineering Apprenticeship alongside degree-level qualifications
Filtration industry experience
Mathcad or TK Solver experience
Previous experience acting as a technical approval/signatory authority
About you
You're an experienced engineer who is comfortable taking technical ownership and being the person others turn to for complex engineering challenges. You'll be:
- Methodical and analytical
- Technically strong and hands-on
- Accurate and thorough
- A confident problem solver
- Self-motivated and accountable
- A strong communicator
- Comfortable working directly with customers
- Willing to travel internationally occasionally when required
Why join?
This is an excellent opportunity to step into a genuine Principal Engineer position where you'll have significant technical influence rather than simply managing individual design projects. You'll become a key technical authority within the Aerospace Engineering team, working across product design, simulation, customer requirements, manufacturing and quality while helping develop the business's FEA and CFD capability.
Interested? If you're an experienced Principal Mechanical Engineer, Principal Design Engineer, Senior Mechanical Design Engineer, FEA Engineer or Aerospace Mechanical Engineer looking for your next challenge, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today or contact Kingdom People for a confidential discussion.
Principal Engineer employer: Kingdom People
At Kingdom People, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture. As an Engineering Manager in our dynamic team, you will benefit from extensive professional development opportunities, competitive compensation, and the chance to make a significant impact on cutting-edge high-voltage electronics projects. Our commitment to employee growth and a supportive environment makes us a standout choice for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Engineer
✨Join Aerospace Forums and Groups
Get involved in aerospace engineering forums and online communities, like the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics). It's a great way to meet industry peers and stay updated on job openings and trends in the field.
✨Attend Industry Conferences
Keep an eye on upcoming aerospace conferences and events where you can network with professionals and showcase your interest. Events like the Farnborough International Airshow are not just about flying machines; they're a goldmine for connections and potential job leads.
✨Spotlight Your Projects
Make sure to highlight any hands-on experience or projects on your portfolio that showcase your skills in aerospace engineering. Employers love seeing practical applications of theoretical knowledge. Show us what you've got!
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
When you find companies you want to work for, head straight to their careers page to apply for full-time roles, like the one with Kingdom People for a Principal Engineer. This often puts your application in front of the right people faster than just waiting for job boards!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for the aerospace engineering role at Kingdom People, make sure to highlight your technical expertise. Include specific software skills, like CAD tools or simulation software, and any relevant engineering projects you’ve worked on. This is your chance to really shine and showcase your engineering toolkit!
Don't Skip Your Projects!:Include a section in your CV dedicated to projects that demonstrate your problem-solving abilities in aerospace engineering. Whether it's a university project, an internship, or personal work, we love seeing how you’ve applied your skills in real-world scenarios. Make it clear what your role was and the impact of the project.
Show Your Passion in Your Cover Letter:At Kingdom People, we're not just looking for skills – we want to know why you’re passionate about aerospace engineering. Use your cover letter to express what excites you about aviation technology and your career goals. Share any relevant experiences or inspirations that have led you to apply for this full-time position.
Tailor Your CV for Aerospace:Make sure your CV is specifically tailored to aerospace engineering. Focus on your education, any certifications, and your work experience, ensuring you highlight aspects that relate directly to the role. Don’t forget to mention any internships or apprenticeships that have given you hands-on experience.
How to prepare for a job interview at Kingdom People
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Knowledge
Aerospace engineering is all about technical precision, so make sure you’re comfortable with key concepts like aerodynamics, propulsion, and materials science. We recommend going through any relevant coursework or projects you’ve worked on – these real-world examples can illustrate your understanding during the interview with Kingdom People.
✨Showcase Your Projects with Confidence
Make sure to have a portfolio ready that details any significant projects you've worked on, whether it’s a group assignment or a personal endeavour. Be prepared to discuss the challenges you faced, the tools you used, like CAD software, and what you learned from the experience, as this will show your problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Technical Interviews
Expect some technical questions or even problem-solving exercises during your interview with Kingdom People. Get familiar with design challenges or theoretical problems related to aerospace; this can range from calculating lift and drag forces to materials selection under stress. Practising these can help you feel more at ease when faced with tricky questions.
✨Emphasise Your Passion and Teamwork Skills
As a full-time candidate, it’s crucial to convey your passion for aerospace engineering and your ability to work in teams. Highlight any group projects or internships you've done, focusing on how you collaborated with others to achieve a goal. Companies like Kingdom People love seeing candidates who not only have technical skills but also fit well within their team culture.
