NCPP Technical Engineer (Fixed Term)

University of Cambridge; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Cambridge seeks an outstanding Technical Engineer to join the NCPP Engineering Office, driving bespoke rotating machinery and experimental systems for turbomachinery research. Based at the Whittle Laboratory in West Cambridge, you will enable rapid, safe experimental programmes for academic and industrial partners and own projects from concept to commissioning.

You will work across design, manufacture, instrumentation and test campaigns, with hands-on tasks in the workshop and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or Level 6 vocational qualification, or equivalent experience.
• Professional registration at IEng or CEng desirable.
• Experience in rotating machinery engineering across design, analysis, manufacturing, instrumentation and controls, commissioning, servicing or diagnosis.
• Hands-on engineering and workshop experience with rotating machinery.

Responsibilities

• Take technical ownership of academic and industrial research projects.
• Lead development of complete rotating machinery test sections and instrumentation.
• Support test campaigns as SME in rotating machinery and data analysis.
• Contribute to safe, efficient and high-quality experimental operations.
• Carry out hands-on engineering in facility/workshop and occasional travel or out-of-hours work.

Skills

Rotating machinery

Hands-on engineering

Mechanical workshop

Design & analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

Level 6 vocational qualification

Tools

Rotating machinery workshop tools

Job description

The National Centre for Propulsion and Power (NCPP) is looking for an outstanding Technical Engineer to join the growing NCPP Engineering Office to underpin its capability in custom rotating machinery engineering. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the interface of research, engineering and industry, developing and delivering bespoke rotating machinery and experimental systems that enable cutting-edge turbomachinery research.

Based within the NCPP, the UK's new flagship mid-TRL test facility for turbomachinery research and development, at the Whittle Laboratory in West Cambridge, you will play a key role in enabling rapid, safe and high-quality experimental programmes for both academic and industrial partners. Our work supports innovation in propulsion and power technologies and contributes to the wider ambition to deliver world-leading zero-emission research and help accelerate the transition to net zero.

You will take technical ownership of academic and industrial research projects, working closely with researchers, academics, technicians, and industrial partners to turn research requirements into practical engineering solutions and ensuring experiments can be delivered safely, efficiently and to a high standard.

From concept and detailed design through manufacture, instrumentation, assembly and commissioning, you will lead the development of complete rotating machinery test sections and their instrumentation and ancillary systems. You will also play a key role during test campaigns, acting as the subject matter expert in rotating machinery, supporting operation and contributing to data collection and analysis.

The role includes significant hands-on engineering and workshop activity, with physical work on the experimental facility or in the workshop. Occasional travel and, rarely, out-of-hours or weekend working may be required to support urgent deliverables or unforeseen equipment failures.

We are looking for an engineer who combines strong technical knowledge with practical, hands-on engineering experience. The successful candidate will hold a bachelor's degree or Level 6 vocational qualification in mechanical engineering or a related technical discipline, or possess equivalent experience. Professional registration at IEng or CEng level, or a commitment to working towards professional registration, would be desirable.

You will have experience in rotating machinery engineering, with expertise in one or more areas such as design, analysis, manufacturing, instrumentation and controls, commissioning, servicing or diagnosis. Specialist knowledge and hands-on experience working with rotating machinery and in a mechanical workshop is particularly important.

This is more than a conventional engineering role so if you are an engineer who enjoys taking a problem from concept through to hardware, commissioning and successful experimental operation, we would love to hear from you.

Join us and help turn ambitious research ideas into working engineering solutions.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 14 months in the first instance.

Eligibility and Equality

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.