Mechanical Design Engineer

What if you could work with remarkable people on extraordinary things? What if the end result was something a little bit special? What if your role was mission critical?
For nearly 70 years, AWE has been at the forefront of nuclear weapons research and development. We have a critical mission: to provide the warheads for the UK s ultimate deterrent - Trident. We also use our unique skills to provide wider UK government with counter-terrorism and nuclear threat reduction solutions.
It takes a special sort of person to work at AWE. What if that person was you?
AWE has a great opportunity for a Mechanical Design Engineer (Warhead Enhanced Nuclear Safety Team)
This role will involve developing warhead components and sub-systems that contain pressurised equipment, mechanical structures, electrical sensors and chemical interfaces. The successful candidate will be working with a multi-disciplined team made up of Engineers, Physicists and Material Scientist to provide concepts, prototypes and validated engineered solutions to support Replacement Warhead technologies.
Mechanical Design Engineer (Warhead Enhanced Nuclear Safety Team)
Location: Reading (office based)
Salary: £35,720 - £51,000 (dependent on experience)
Closing date: 07th May 2024
As part of our People Promise, AWE (one of the best 25 big companies to work for in the UK) has a range of benefits to suit you. These include:

• Time to recharge your batteries with 270 hours of annual leave (plus every other Friday off work)
• Consideration for flexible working arrangements so that your work may fit in with your lifestyle. Just let us know on your application if you wish to work part time
• Opportunities for Professional Career Development that include funding for the annual membership of a relevant professional body, access to mentors and training
• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services
• A generous defined contribution Group Personal Pension (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your own contribution)
• Life Assurance
• Discounts - access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending
• Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring for your family
• A host of voluntary & core benefits to suit your health and wellbeing - more information available on our careers site
• Relocation package available (terms and conditions apply)
• Potential opportunities to travel with work for conferences and collaboration

As a Mechanical Design Engineer your role will span a range of responsibilities including:

• Delivery of own agreed objectives / project deliverables
• Being directly responsible for engaging with stakeholders across the company to progress design activities, ensuring compliance with safety, security and performance with input from subject matter experts. Aid planning activities for future design activities
• Contribute to the planning and execution of tasks in order to deliver specific agreed objectives on time; demonstrating control of cost and quality
• Support the progress of designs through product lifecycle
• Understanding of the hazards and associated risks of any work conducted and, where required, safely use specialised equipment
• Maintain and promote high personal standards in environment, safety, health, security and quality and be a great team player. Be able to work as part of a team and independently to deliver packages of work as per the customer requirements
• Understanding customer requirements and being able to translate these into engineering solutions
• Contribute to the delivery of conceptual designs, detail designs, manufacturing specifications, operational documentation and validation evidence for mechanical engineering solutions in relation to defined requirements
• Contribute to the production and delivery of high-quality technical reports and presentations.
• Identify and support opportunities for cost savings, efficiency and business improvement.
• Assist the Technical Lead in managing partnerships
• Support the Senior Engineer in scoping, planning, and estimating future activities
• Organise personal training and development under the guidance of a professional mentor

To be considered for this role, we would like you to have:

• A Degree, HND/HNC or an equivalent vocational qualification, in an engineering discipline supported by considerable practical experience, with or working towards professional registration
• Awareness of the development, testing and evaluation of Engineering designs
• Experience in the production of outline designs
• Accuracy in the creation of technical reports and documentation

Though not to be considered a check list, candidates would also benefit from knowledge of ANY of the following:

• PSSR and pressure vessel design codes
• FEA/CFD knowledge
• Stress analysis
• Computer Aided Design (CAD) systems
• Electro-mechanical monitoring
• Fluid dynamics and hydraulic systems
• Materials selection
• Nuclear Safety assessment techniques

Candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role and be able to regularly travel to the US for partnering opportunities.
Please note that you must be a British Citizen to apply for a role with us.
Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants. Any inclusion information you provide us will be used to encourage and support you through the application process and will be held only for this purpose in accordance with GDPR.