Placement Mechanical Engineer - VAVE in Leeds

At Modine, we are Engineering a Cleaner, Healthier World™. Building on more than 100 years of excellence in thermal management, we provide trusted systems and solutions that improve air quality and conserve natural resources. Our Airedale by Modine brand is a world leader in the design and manufacture of innovative thermal management solutions for data centers, clean rooms, hospitals, universities, and other mission-critical environments.

The role reports into the Lead Mechanical Engineer (VAVE) and involves working closely with a team of Engineers from a variety of disciplines (Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing etc) to further develop the existing products offered by Airedale, and the processes used to design and manufacture them. The aim of the role is to take cost out of the final products, either through material savings or a process improvement, all whilst not forcing a compromise as far as quality is concerned. The role is a great opportunity to develop as an engineer, within a team where you can have as much or as little independence as is needed.

The following areas are key in making this role a success:

• Use technical and industry knowledge to reduce material costs of our products
• Understand component design and seek cost effective alternatives
• Design out product quality concerns and minimise product lifecycle costs
• Work closely with the design engineers to analyse new prototypes with a view to ensuring there is an efficient relationship between the design and production process
• Review existing manufacturing production lines and plan cost-effective production processes
• Aid in the design and maintenance of standard product ranges.

Key Responsibilities:

• Value engineering ideas are generated throughout the department and the wider company. These may be in the form of switching to alternative components, a redesign of an existing product or a design/build process change. You are then required to investigate the cost saving value (looking at material/labour and overhead savings), roughly outline what work there is to do and how long it will take, giving a cost saving “score”. If a particular cost saving project scores higher than all the other opportunities, the work begins is released to the wider company through a change notification once complete.
• Other responsibilities may include working with the quality department, to resolve any issues seen either during the production stage, or on site. Your role is key within R&D and the company as a whole.

Required Education & Qualifications:

• On track to achieving a First Class or 2:1 in a Mechanical Engineering degree, or any associated disciplines of engineering (e.g. Automotive/Motorsport, Aerospace, Energy etc).
• Good theoretical and practical understanding of mechanical engineering principles, particularly those centred around thermofluids/thermodynamics, especially refrigeration.
• Good theoretical and practical understanding of manufacturing engineering.
• Ability to produce comprehensive and coherent technical reports.
• Be able to self-manage and work independently; being able to manage your own time and use your initiative to switch to different projects easily to suit the priorities of the business.
• Be able to learn quickly and think laterally.
• Be able to work in a team and manage projects to completion.
• Be able to communicate effectively at all levels; you will need to be a proactive individual as you will be required to obtain information effectively by going out and speaking to employees within the business or communicating externally with various suppliers.
• Experience of 3D modelling and 2D drafting.
• Be capable of visualising and communicating process flow and value streams.
• Familiar with MOS/MPS processes (continuous improvement systems).
• Have experience of current and next generation production techniques.
• Professional attitude at all times, not only will you be representing Airedale, you also represent the department.
• Use SAP (an ERP system), training will be provided on this.

Ideally experience of the following software:

• MS Excel and VBA
• MS Word
• Solid Edge
• AutoCAD 2D

Airedale has a history of taking on placement students in full time roles upon graduation, with 2 previous placement students now working here on a permanent basis. This placement role is no exception, and can be viewed as a year-long interview process for the successful candidate. The position of the role within the product development team also puts the successful candidate in prime position to work with us on final year project ideas, which we are more than happy to work on in collaboration with the student during the final year of study at university.