Lead Structural Engineer

About The Role

We are urgently seeking to recruit a Lead Structural Engineer, initially on a 12 month contract basis to be based predominantly on-site at our Ampthill, Bedfordshire offices.

The Structural Integrity Engineer (SIE) is a senior technical specialist who analyses, develops, and validates the mechanical integrity of complex structural systems across light‑weight and heavy‑weight platforms. The role encompasses metallic, non‑metallic, and composite materials, covering design, production, testing, and maintenance phases. Core responsibilities include damage‑tolerance, durability, and structural modelling across dynamics, loads, stability, stress fatigue and thermal analyses. The duty cycle uses a broad array of engineering tools, notably MSC Nastran, MSC Marc, Siemens Simcenter, Beta CAE, ANSA, and PTC Creo.

The Structural Integrity Engineer will be a Subject Matter Expert in structural analysis and integrity decision‑making, operating within the Structural Integrity Group, a sub‑function of the Engineering Department. Core responsibilities include:

• Developing and validating high‑fidelity finite‑element models for metallic, composite and hybrid structures.
• Executing static, dynamic, vibrational, thermal and fluid‑structure interaction analyses.
• Performing damage‑tolerance and fatigue assessments.
• Authoring concise strength‑summary reports and risk assessments that satisfy MoD and customer standards.
• Translating analysis outcomes into manufacturing instructions and inspection plans.
• Leading knowledge‑transfer workshops and maintaining model libraries.
• Championing process improvement through new software, material databases and automation scripts.
• Representing the Company at design reviews, client briefings and external audits.

Required Skills, Qualifications & Experience

• BEng (Hons) in Mechanical/Aerospace or equivalent.
• Minimum 5 years of industrial structural‑analysis experience on metallic and composite parts.
• Proficient in MSC Nastran and pre‑processors such as Patran, Apex, Simcenter, or ANSA.
• Experienced in static, dynamic, linear and non‑linear analyses.
• Skilled in hand‑based stress calculations and fatigue life prediction.
• Extensive experience modelling aluminium, titanium, steel and high‑strength alloys for both light‑ and heavy‑weight systems.
• Basic knowledge of composite lay‑up, ply‑by‑ply modelling and defect effects.
• Capable of drafting clear, concise strength‑summary reports and risk assessments.
• Comfortable working collaboratively with design, manufacturing, testing and quality teams.
• Skilled in scripting (Python, batch) and use of high‑performance computing to streamline analyses.
• Candidates must be able to undergo the process to achieve a Secret Clearance and be willing to go through the process to achieve a Developed Vetting Clearance.