Senior Design Engineer

Collins Aerospace; Kilkeel; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Private healthcare

Group income protection

Life assurance

Professional development

Onsite parking

Employee referral bonus

Staff discounts

Wellness programs

Job summary

Collins Aerospace is expanding its Kilkeel facility with a new engineering design team for seating programmes. As a Senior Design Engineer, you will lead NPI activities with a focus on DFMA and DFA, guiding designs from concept through manufacturing and working with engineering, manufacturing and cross-functional teams.

You will work autonomously on complex tasks while mentoring less experienced engineers, contributing to innovative aircraft seating products and standardising processes for

Qualifications

• Hold a third-level qualification in a relevant engineering discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a Design or Engineering related role.
• Minimum of 2 years' experience in a comparable professional role.
• Experience with DFMA principles and mechanical systems design for aircraft seating is desirable.
• Familiarity with EASA/FAA/UK CAA requirements is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Design and review models, drawings, and assemblies for clarity and conformance; consider manufacturability and cost.
• Perform weight and cost analyses to optimize designs and meet requirements.
• Resolve complex design problems to support project completion and product quality.
• Design new products and processes; improve and maintain existing ones to meet business needs.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers.
• Participate in standardisation efforts to implement best practices and efficiency.

Skills

Design engineering

DFMA principles

Cost analysis

Problem solving

Mentorship

Cross-functional work

Leadership

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

Siemens NX

Teamcenter

Job description

Are you passionate about innovative design and engineering?

Collins Aerospace is expanding its engineering capability at our Kilkeel facility, with a new engineering design team supporting our main cabin, business class and first-class seating programmes.

As a Senior Design Engineer, you will lead New Product Introduction (NPI) activities, with a particular focus on Design for Manufacture (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA). You’ll play a key role in taking seating products from design through to manufacturing, working closely with engineering, manufacturing and cross-functional teams to develop robust, production-ready designs.

You’ll work autonomously on complex engineering activities, while also providing technical guidance, coaching and design review support to less experienced engineers. This is an opportunity to make a direct impact on the development of innovative aircraft seating products within a growing engineering team.

What You Will Do

Design and Review

• Create and review models, drawings, and assemblies to ensure clarity, completeness, and conformity to standards and specifications. Perform calculations and dimensioning to ensure accuracy. Investigate pertinent design factors such as ease of manufacture, availability of materials and equipment, interchangeability, replace ability, strength-weight efficiency, and contractual specification requirements and cost.
• Communicate with other engineering personnel to coordinate interrelated designs and ensure timely project completion.

Cost and Efficiency Analysis

• Conduct major cost studies and perform weight analyses to ensure designs meet contractual and structural requirements while optimizing for efficiency.

Problem Solving

• Resolve complex design problems to facilitate project completion and ensure product quality.

Product Development

• Design new products and processes, as well as improve and maintain existing ones, to meet the current and future needs of the business.

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to less experienced engineers, helping them develop their skills and solve problems effectively

Standardisation

• Participate in groups to design and implement standard work procedures across the organization to optimize efficiency and quality.
• Embrace a continuous improvement mindset, to drive improvements to our products and processes, by eliminating waste.

What You Will Learn

• Advanced Technical Skills: Gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge design software and tools, enhancing your proficiency in CAD, simulation, and prototyping.
• Innovative Design Practices: Learn and apply the latest industry standards and best practices in design engineering, ensuring your work meets the highest quality and efficiency standards.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including R&D, manufacturing, and marketing, to bring innovative products to life. Enhance your communication and teamwork skills by working closely with professionals from various fields.
• Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking: Tackle complex engineering challenges and develop creative solutions, enhancing your analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Leadership and Mentorship: Grow your leadership skills by mentoring junior engineers and participating in leadership development programs.
• Design Optimisation: Develop expertise in design optimisation techniques, focusing on weight reduction, cost reduction, and strength analysis. Learn to balance these factors to create efficient, cost-effective, and robust designs.

Hold a third-level qualification in a relevant engineering discipline and meet one of the following requirements:

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a Design or Engineering related role.

OR

• Minimum of 2 years' experience in a comparable professional role.
• Mechanical Systems Design: Prior experience in the design of mechanical systems for commercial aircraft seating products.
• CAD Software: Experience in design using Siemens NX or other 3D CAD software.
• PDM Tools: Experience working with Teamcenter or other Product Data Manager (PDM) tools.
• DFMA Principles: Experience working with Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) principles.
• EASA /FAA / UK CAA Requirements: Familiarity with EASA /FAA / UK CAA requirements is a plus.

What We Offer

People are core to what we do. As such, we are committed to providing an industry leading benefits package. We offer a highly competitive salary and many other benefits to include:

• 25 days Annual Leave & 9 Public Holidays
• Early finish Fridays
• Attractive Compensation Package
• Private Healthcare Cover (including ability to customise cover)
• Group Income Protection
• Life Assurance
• Professional Development + Growth
• Support with professional fees
• EAP (Employee Assistance Programme)
• Staff Discounts
• Wellness Programs
• Employee Referral Bonus
• Free onsite parking

At Collins Aerospace, our Interiors team is focused on innovation, safety and cost efficiency. But we don’t just get people from point A to point B. We’re committed to making air travel more comfortable, connected and secure. As a leader in aviation interior products and services, we’re helping airlines and original equipment manufacturers create a positive experience for their customers.

With offices and manufacturing facilities in more than 12 states across the U.S. and more than 10 countries around the globe, we’re changing the game of aircraft interiors.