Principal Engineer – Automotive Damageability

Thatcham Research; Thatcham; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Group Life Assurance (4x basic salary)

Pension 10% non-contributory

Holiday 29 days + public holidays

Health cash plan

Job summary

Thatcham Research is seeking a Principal Engineer – Automotive Damageability to serve as the technical authority on vehicle damage risk. You will lead the development of methodologies quantifying damage performance in real-world events and determine implications for insurability and customer outcomes.

You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate insights into industry guidance and support manufacturers and insurers in decision making.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in vehicle engineering, crash performance or vehicle damage assessment.
• Strong knowledge of vehicle structures and systems including emerging tech.
• Ability to lead complex research projects with evidence-based approaches.
• Ability to communicate technical findings to technical and non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead approach to understanding, assessing and quantifying vehicle damage risk.
• Define metrics and assessment frameworks for damage performance.
• Translate damage-risk insights into insurance implications.
• Act as external technical authority representing the organisation with insurers and manufacturers.
• Collaborate with safety, repair, data, operations, product and marketing teams.
• Support scalable damageability assessment methods and analytical models.

Skills

Vehicle engineering

Crash performance

Structural engineering

Damage assessment

Stakeholder engagement

CAD data interpretation

Communication of technical findings

Education

Engineering degree or equivalent

Tools

CAD data wrangling

Engineering documentation

Job description

Principal Engineer – Automotive Damageability | Circa £75,500+ excellent benefits | Permanent | Hybrid

Thatcham Research is looking for a Principal Engineer – Automotive Damageability to serve as our technical authority in vehicle damage performance risk and insurance-related vehicle assessment. In this strategic role, you’ll lead the development of methodologies that help us understand and quantify how vehicles perform in real-world low speed damage events, and what this means for vehicle insurability and customer outcomes. Through innovative research, you’ll identify the risk affecting factors that influence damage frequency and severity, translating complex technical evidence into industry guidance and helping vehicle manufacturers and motor insurers make informed decisions that improve vehicle design, and total cost of ownership.

As the Principal Engineer – Automotive Damageability, you'll:

• Lead Thatcham Research’s approach to understanding, assessing and quantifying vehicle damage risk.
• Define the metrics and assessment frameworks needed to evaluate vehicle damage performance consistently.
• Translate vehicle damage-risk insights into insurance implications, including damage likelihood and extent.
• Act as Thatcham Research’s external technical authority in this field, representing the organisation with insurers, manufacturers, suppliers, industry bodies, working groups and standards organisations.
• Collaborate with specialists across safety, security, repair, data, operations, product and marketing.
• Support the development of scalable damageability assessment methods, risk insights, analytical models and industry services.

Skills & experience that will set you up for success in this role:

• Significant experience in vehicle engineering, crash performance, body structure engineering, insurance engineering or vehicle damage assessment.
• Strong knowledge of vehicle structures, materials, mechanical and electromechanical systems, including emerging technologies and vehicle architectures.
• Proven ability to lead technically complex research projects and establish robust, evidence-based approaches.
• Ability to communicate complex engineering findings clearly to technical, insurance and non-technical audiences.
• Credibility and confidence when engaging with senior technical and industry stakeholders.
• Ability to interpret CAD data, technical drawings, wiring diagrams and engineering documentation.
• Awareness of how vehicle damage characteristics influence downstream repair and insurance outcomes.
• Strong stakeholder management, influencing and communication skills.
• A degree or equivalent professional experience in engineering or another relevant discipline.

Research tells us that men are more likely to apply to jobs if they meet only 60% of the criteria, whereas women often hesitate or don't apply unless they meet all of the criteria. This difference in application behaviour can contribute to the gender gap in career advancement and opportunities.

• 10% non-contributory pension
• 29 days holiday (inclusive of Christmas shutdown) + public holidays
• Group Life Assurance (equal to 4 x basic salary)
• Salary Sacrifice schemes (cycle to work, home & tech scheme)
• Enhanced and competitive parental leave for all parents, regardless of gender or family structure
• Moneyhealth’s Financial Coaching & Wellbeing Platform
• Health Cash Plan (cash back on eligible medical treatments)
• Reward & Recognition Programme
• Discounted gym membership
• Sports & Social club
• Payroll charitable giving
• Subsidised on-site restaurant
• Free on-site parking

When we work

Our standard working hours are 8:30 - 16:30 Monday - Thursday, early finish on Friday - 8:30 - 15:45 (Talk to us about flexible working if this doesn’t quite suit you – we take work-life balance seriously!)

How we work

We understand the benefits of remote and in-person collaboration and therefore have a hybrid working model – you’ll be expected to work from our office in Thatcham at least two days per week.

What we do

At the cutting edge of automotive research in the UK, Thatcham Research has a unique role in shaping the design of new vehicles and influencing ever higher standards of safety, security and repair. With an on-site Crash Laboratory, Repair Technology Centre and Training Academy, our research expertise is driving some of the very latest automotive developments in technology, materials and standards in this fast moving and highly technical industry.

Our Gamston facility is one of the UK’s leading sites for active safety, trialling and assessing the latest crash avoidance and driver assistance technologies.

As an organisation that believes a strong set of Values are key to our organisational success and a sense of belonging for all colleagues, we ask that you understand, represent and apply our Values of Fearless, Inquisitive, Resourceful, Supportive and Trusted and demonstrate these Values throughout the recruitment process.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace which values diversity and embraces each individual's authentic self. We are proud to champion a culture where colleagues freely share their diverse perspectives, recognising that these contribute to our innovative spirit. Our journey of growth and understanding is continuous as we actively invest in diversity training, workshops, and partnerships to ensure positive change.

Beyond our partnerships with the Automotive 30% Club and Women in Data (WiD), we collaborate with various organisations to advance equity not only in gender but also across ethnicity, age, disability, social mobility, LGBTQ+ identities, experiences, and thinking. Our aspiration is to create an environment where everyone thrives, achieves, and experiences a genuine sense of belonging.

Recruitment process

We’re proud to manage our recruitment in-house and believe this direct approach enables us to give you the best possible Employee Experience we can – which starts right here, your application! We’re continuously striving to improve the candidate journey, and transparency (or communication) is a key area of focus – yes, even with salary & benefits.

What can you expect from our recruitment process?

• Regular updates on the progress / outcome of your application
• An initial telephone screening call with a Talent Acquisition Partner
• First interview with the hiring manager, usually via Teams
• Second/Final interview, in-person at our office (we may give you a role specific task to present on!)
• Personalised feedback following your interview – because everyone deserves that!
• An opportunity to give us your honest feedback in a short survey on all of the above

All applicants must have Right to Work in the UK.

If you experience any technical issues when completing your application, please get in touch at [e-mail] and we’ll be happy to help.