Mechanical Design Engineer

2 Year Fixed Term Contract
Durham Based, with some home working flexibility
£37-£44k
The Scope
The Centre for Advanced Instrumentation (CfAI) is a major research group in the Department of Physics at Durham University with approximately seventy staff and research students. It has established a pre-eminent reputation in the development of complex instrumentation for high profile national and international projects. The group is distributed across two physical locations in the Durham area. Firstly there is the Department of Physics located in Durham itself, with its world leading reputation in academic research. Secondly, there is a dedicated technology facility based at NETpark in nearby Sedgefield, providing access to unrivalled technical facilities for the assembly and test of complex instrumentation.
CfAI's mission is to design and develop novel instrumentation based on cutting edge technologies with applications across a range of strategically important scientific areas. CfAI develops state-of-the-art instruments for applications across a wide range of disciplines including astronomical instrumentation, biophysics, remote sensing and fusion diagnostics.
CfAI has provided major instruments for many of the world's leading astronomical facilities including the Anglo-Australian Telescope, William Herschel Telescope, Gemini Telescopes, Magellan Telescope, European Southern Observatory, Very Large Telescope and Southern African Large Telescope.
The Role
An opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, hands-on Mechanical Design Engineer to support the design, development, manufacture and test requirements within a range of astronomical, space-based and other instrument programmes. The vacancy has arisen due to the expansion of the group's research and development activities following a number of successful funding awards.
The role will encompass a broad array of mechanical engineering design activities from concept development through to detailing and system delivery. The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to the hands-on opto-mechanical assembly, integration and test of equipment and instrumentation for astronomical & space based sectors as well as other application areas. The successful candidate will be expected to use existing technical knowledge and develop further skills across a broad array of disciplines including general Mechanical Design, cryogenics, vacuum system engineering, thermal modelling, FEA, materials selection and electrical systems integration.
An important part of the role will be the analysis and reporting of results. The appointee would be working on substantial national/international projects, often involving large numbers of dedicated scientists and engineers. Working with interdisciplinary and inter-institutional teams will form an essential part of the role, as will the need to travel for collaboration and instrument commissioning.
This is initially a fixed term position for 2 years, but would be expected to continue beyond this, subject to CfAI's continued success in winning projects.
The Person
Educated to degree level in either Mechanical Engineering or Physics (or equivalent experience).
Involvement in design, manufacture & test of complex or high precision mechanical or opto-mechanical products, systems or instrumentation.
Experience of product or system testing to ensure designs meet requirements.
Highly competent in at least one major CAD software package (e.g. Autodesk Inventor), covering design and detailed drawing activity.
The ability to perform design calculations and structural analysis by analytical and/or Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software techniques. CfAI use ANSYS for system modelling and FEA.