Project Engineer

Job Title: Project Engineer

Posting Start Date: 16/10/2026

Job Id: 3201

School/Department: Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre

Work Arrangement: Full Time (Hybrid)

Contract Type: Fixed-term

Salary per annum (£): £32,080 - £36,636 with potential to progress to £39,906 through outstanding contribution

Closing Date: 05/11/2026

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.

Overview

As a Project Engineer, you will work specifically on Defence projects within our research team at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre. We want you to be primarily responsible for researching and developing innovative solutions to manufacturing problems. Working as part of a team, we would like you to excel by researching and trialling new technologies and developing processes which help our customers drive step change improvements in manufacturing performance.

Effective customer service and communication skills, including the ability to write reports and deliver presentations is a real advantage. A good understanding or experience with current CAD/CAM software packages, manufacturing processes and technologies will help you to fulfil your role. You should also have an ability to develop a creative approach to problem solving.

Please be aware that there is a requirement for the successful applicant to obtain Security

Check clearance (SC) as this role is in the Defence sector. Please ensure you meet the

eligibility criteria for the check when you are applying for this post. More details on the checks

can be found on the Government website: gov.uk/criminal-record-checks-apply-role (opens in

a new window).

Main duties and responsibilities

• Responsible for solving complex manufacturing and other highly technical problems. This will mean ensuring that solutions are properly focused in the most effective manner.
• Research, analyse, collate, and edit data and techniques for inclusion in reports and other documents to summarise main findings and conclusions of tests and experiments.
• Implement and oversee the preparation of materials (work piece, tooling, fixtures, etc.) and set up equipment for experiments that have been designed specifically to meet research objectives and find solutions.
• Develop skills through external or on the job training, suitable to accomplish the engineering and project tasks required.
• Present data results to internal and external stakeholders at all levels in a professional and concise manner.
• Plan and carry out tasks and responsibilities over the short-medium term, with an awareness of longer-term issues to meet the research objectives set in a project.
• Working alongside the Project Management team to plan and order appropriate tooling, materials and hardware ahead of project requirement.
• Update Project Manager and Technical Line Manager with progress reports and escalation of any issues.
• Work alongside the Central Team and the Factory Management site staff to enable smooth transitions of project deliveries and to facilitate machining demonstrations.
• Any other duties, commensurate with the grade of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

Essential or desirable

Stage(s) assessed at

Have a good honours degree in an engineering discipline (or equivalent experience).

Essential

Application

Strong IT skills including Microsoft office

Essential

Application

Willingness and ability to travel

Essential

Application

The ability to plan, monitor and revise requirements based on changing circumstances and events.

Essential

Interview

Management of information, including capturing actions, carrying out and follow up of actions.

Essential

Application/Interview

Effective communication skills, both written and verbal. Where possible experience in report writing skills, delivering a variety of

presentations, communicating to staff at all levels.

Essential

Application/Interview

Excellent customer service skills, with experience of responding efficiently and effectively to phone and email enquiries.

Essential

Application/Interview

The personal desire to embrace ‘on-the-job’ technical guidance and training opportunities to further the successful candidates’ knowledge and capabilities.

Essential

Interview

Be willing to work on defence projects and attain SC clearance.

Essential

Application

Experience with CAD/CAM software and NC machining hardware

Essential

Application/Interview

Experience of working effectively and efficiently within both small and large teams

Essential

Application/Interview

Experience of performing experimental work

Desirable

Application/Interview

Further Information

Grade

6

Salary

£32,080 – £36,636 with potential to progress to £39,906 through outstanding contribution

Work arrangement

Full-time – Permanent – on site

Line manager

Technical Fellow

Direct reports

N/A

Right to work in the UK

If you do not currently hold the right to work in the UK, you can find more information here to help determine your visa eligibility. Additional guidance is also available on the UK Visa & Immigration website.

Our website

https://www.amrc.co.uk/

For informal enquiries about this job contact Rob Gibson [email protected]

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place 2 weeks following interview completion. This will consist of a 50-minute interview, including a 10-minute presentation (topic to be confirmed on invite to interview).

If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Rob Gibson [email protected]

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision ().

What we offer

• A minimum of 38days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Academic Career Pathways
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • support for those going through the menopause
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Security Checks

Please be aware that there is a requirement for the successful applicant to undertake a Baseline Personnel Security Standard check (BPSS) and to obtain Security

Check clearance (SC) as this role is in the Defence sector.

You will need to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role. This is usually only available to British citizens who have been living in the UK for the past 5 years.

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.