Design Authority in Kidderminster

Roxel is an Anglo-French Company that designs, develops and manufactures a range of solid propellant rocket motors for use in tactical missiles. Its operations are spread across several sites in the UK and France and it has an annual turnover of about £150M and nearly 1000 staff. The UK operations are entirely based at Summerfield, Kidderminster.

We have a requirement for a permanent Lead or Senior Design Authority (Project Engineer, Mechanical Engineer) reporting to the Design Authority Team Leader within the Development team. The successful candidate will work as part of a team on projects spanning from concept design, demonstration, development, qualification and production, through to customer in-service support.

Rocket motors combine in one system many diverse scientific and engineering principles. The motor structure must be lightweight yet able to resist the extreme pressures and temperatures associated with propellant combustion. The operational environments are equally severe combining extremes of temperature, mechanical vibration and shock. Although specialist engineers support the Design Authorities, this role offers a unique and stimulating opportunity for engineers willing and able to broaden their knowledge and experience. A Design Authority is methodical and organised in their work and a ‘hands on’ approach to working is essential.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Promote zero harm objective by operating in accordance with any Health, Safety and Environmental policies and procedures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff and visitors and pro-actively promote and support SWIM.
• Manage design evolution to meet customer requirements:
• Responsible for clearance of detail production drawings, ensuring conformance to BS8888 and manufacturability.
• Lead and complete DFMEA’s.
• Approve production processes and tooling.
• Demonstrate compliance with customer requirements:
• Specify and review structural, thermal and ballistic analyses.
• Review key suppliers’ methods of manufacture and control procedures.
• Specify, monitor and report rocket motor trials.
• Lead trials readiness reviews.
• Adhere to internal EN9100 processes, particularly the RD2 process, understand and share Technology Readiness Levels and Class of Difficulty Assessments.
• Produce and deliver formal technical presentations to the customer.
• Produce product technical specifications and detailed technical reports.
• Ensure appropriate validation testing is carried out prior to formal qualifications.
• Lead formal design reviews (PDR, DDR, CDR etc.) at the relevant design phases and ensure actions are taken and completed on time.
• Responsible for producing a Certificate of Design for the rocket motor and associated documentation; Qualification reports, Compliance Matrix, Safety Case etc.
• Customer technical interface lead on all technical matters with the missile prime contractor (e.g. MBDA, Thales, SAAB) and the end user (e.g. MoD, DGA).
• Lead technical investigations.
• Liaison at all levels within the business, manufacturers and suppliers.
• Arrange/manage specific trials such as structural testing, rocket motor firings, laboratory scale testing (quantitative testing of materials, etc).
• Dis-assembly/assessment of fired rocket motor hardware.
• SENIOR: Whilst there is no direct line management of staff, there is a requirement to coach and mentor other team members to develop their engineering skills and knowledge.
• Perform any other duties necessary, as requested to by the business to carry out job function.

These responsibilities require close liaison and understanding with Roxel specialists in CAD design, stress analysis, thermal analysis, ballistic analysis, solid propellants, materials, trials, production engineering and project management.

EXPERIENCE & BACKGROUND

Qualifications:

• Essential Qualifications: A formal qualification (minimum HND or equivalent) in mechanical, aeronautical, physics or related engineering discipline. Alternatively, a fully time-served engineer supported by recognised apprenticeship and/or equivalent demonstrable experience in a related discipline.
• Desirable Qualifications: Professional membership / Chartered Engineer (CEng) of a relevant institute e.g., Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Royal Aeronautical Society, Institute of Explosive Engineers etc.

Experience:

• Essential Experience: Minimum of 3 years in an engineering team environment developing products to meet customer requirements.
• Sound understanding of engineering (mathematics, stressing, materials (metals and polymers) and manufacturing techniques.
• IT literate with experience of working with Microsoft Office tools (Power Point, Excel, Word, etc).
• Interest and aptitude in both the theory and practical aspects of engineering and in particular rocket motor design.
• Ability to assimilate and evaluate technical information from a wide range of disciplines with a high attention to detail.
• Ability to present complex problems clearly and logically to other specialist and non-specialist engineers.
• Experience working with safety-critical products and knowledge of regulatory standards requirements e.g. DEF STAN 07-085.
• Excellent document/report writing skills.
• Trials/assessment testing experience (e.g. structural testing, vibration, etc).

• Desirable Experience: Good understanding of DFMEA, ‘Design to Cost’ and ‘Design for Manufacture’ principles.
• Good experience of Project Management and familiarity with P6 Primavera.
• Experience of bids and commercial management in Defence, Automotive or Manufacturing Engineering environment.
• Experience of managing within an EN9100 or Quality Management System culture.

Person Specification:

• Demonstrate behaviours that align with Roxel’s values of ‘Commitment’, ‘Innovation’, ‘Trust’ and ‘Teamwork’.
• Proven ability to manage projects through the entire engineering development lifecycle.
• Motivated and driven to deliver results according to defined timescales and expected standards.
• Strong communicator with the ability to build relationships with the customer and other internal technical specialists.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Positive attitude and work ethic.
• Able to manage own time and prioritise tasks.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

• This will be a 2-stage interview.
• The role is a grade depends on whether the successful candidate is offered a lead or senior position.
• The role is eligible for ad hoc Hybrid Working after successful probation.
• Office working hours.