The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

As a Senior Project Engineer in the machining group, your primary focus will be on developing digital technologies and process modelling techniques for commodity led production challenges. Collaborating within a team, you will leverage your extensive manufacturing experience to identify, evaluate, and implement established and emerging technologies. Your key objective will be to develop robust and efficient manufacturing processes that drive significant improvements in production output, cost-effectiveness, and overall industrial performance for our customers.

Our projects are collaborative and often complex, involving multiple partners, working on innovative technology to provide practical solutions to industrial problems. As a member of the multi-functional project team, you will contribute to the scoping, delivering and reporting of research projects, as well as engineering tasks such as programming for modelling development, implementing numerical techniques such as the Finite Element Method, and performing experimental testing for data capture and analysis. You will support project engineers in their development and in turn, be supported in project tasks.

Supported by a dedicated project management team, you will lead and deliver high impact research outcomes. With responsibility for growing the order book in subsequent years, you will need to champion key relationships with industrial and government partners to help keep us at the forefront of advanced manufacturing research.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Technically support the delivery of high-quality research in machining process simulation and optimisation.
• Programming (MATLAB, Python, C++, Fortran) for model development and Finite Element simulations.
• Statistical experimental design and analysis of data (i.e Design of Experiments and ANOVA)
• Preparation of materials (work piece, tooling, fixtures, etc.) and set up of equipment for experimental machining tests.
• Perform experimental machining tests and material characterisation activities.
• Write technical reports to summarise key findings and outputs to aid the direction of future research.
• Present data and results to internal and external stakeholders at all levels in a professional and concise manner.
• Develop skills through external or on the job training, suitable to accomplish the engineering and project tasks required.
• Plan and carry out tasks and responsibilities over the short-medium term, with an awareness of longer-term issues to meet the research objectives set in a project.
• Produce detailed and accurate project documentation such as statements of work, experiment methodologies, and quality gate sheets.
• Working alongside the Project Management team to plan and order appropriate tooling, materials and hardware ahead of project requirements.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Further Information

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place a week after the advert closing date. This will consist of a 50-minute interview, including a 10-minute presentation (topic to be confirmed on invite to interview). We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage two weeks after the advert closing date. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Josh Priest on j.m.priest@sheffield.ac.uk.

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Academic Career Pathways.
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • support for those going through the menopause
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Criminal record

Please be aware that there is a requirement for the successful applicant to obtain Security

Check clearance (SC) as this role is in the Defence sector. Please ensure you meet the

eligibility criteria for the check when you are applying for this post. More details on the checks can be found on the Government website: gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels (opens in a new window).

Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at the University of Sheffield. We recognise the value of steady employment in the rehabilitation process and examine each case in its own right. More information can be found on our Information for candidates page:- sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/candidates (opens in a new window).

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.