Senior Design & Development Engineer

Acro Aircraft Seating is one of the UKs leading and fastest growing manufacturers of passenger seats for commercial airlines around the world. We are an agile, innovative business at the forefront of disrupting the aerospace market. Through modern methodologies, lean techniques, inspired innovation, and passion to be the best, Acro is positioning itself to be the worlds leading aircraft seating supplier.

Collaboration is one of Acros core values, by working together and applying our skills and expertise across Sales, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain and Operations, we find the solutions to our clients most complex challenges and how we deliver our promises today and tomorrow.

Job Description

As a Senior Design & Development Engineer*,* you are responsible for owning and delivering work packages within a matrix structure, achieving on time product delivery and compliance to specifications whilst meeting customer requirements. You will work closely with other Acro functional teams and external stakeholders to ensure effective & efficient design and development.

Key Responsibilities

• Take responsibility for assigned elements of the seat design, ensuring parts and assemblies are designed to achieve an overall seat design that meets Aircraft installation requirements as well as achieving comfort, reliability, performance, aesthetic, cost and weight targets.
• Produce high quality 3D and 2D design definition using Catia V5 and SmarTeam, along with supporting documentation.
• Produce high-quality seat configuration and LOPA developments in accordance with Customer Program requirements, Airframe requirements and National Authority regulations.
• Drive problem solving activities related to design, development, quality, and manufacturing issues.
• Progress assigned work packages from concept through to supporting production, whilst ensuring they pass all validation and certification requirements, in collaboration with the Stress Analysis, Test and Certification functions
• Work closely with suppliers to develop designs, taking into consideration supplier capability and piece cost, as well as identifying and exploiting opportunities for technical or commercial advantage.
• Work closely with Airlines, Product Design specialists, Integrators and Aircraft OEMs to deliver program Tech Data On-Time In-Full and Right First-Time, to achieve program commitments and optimal Supplier Ratings.
• Continually drive the design towards optimal DFM and DFA.
• Generate, contribute to, and actively engage in measures to adhere to development timing plans.
• Liaise with external customers to ensure design requirements are understood and achieved.
• Conduct presentations internally and at critical reviews to the customer.
• Manage, track and report adherence to programme deliverables on time and to the right quality.
• Work closely with Principal Engineers and Engineering Project Leads (EPLs) to support multiple programmes in parallel.
• Apply professional expertise and judgement appropriately to deliver engineering programmes, whilst independently identifying issues and risks, and proactively coming up with solutions to overcome them, escalating to management in a timely manner when necessary.
• Support the engineering management team in identifying and implementing improvements to engineering processes, systems, and tools within the engineering team.
• Act as a senior member of the engineering team, championing best practice, developing less experienced colleagues and providing effective support to the Principal Engineer Design & Development and EPL team, deputising when required.

Skills and Experience required

Essential

• Strong Mechanical or related Engineering degree

• Experience of working on mechanical product development programmes

• Good knowledge and understanding across a range of manufacturing processes and materials.

• Proficient user of 3D CAD software (Preferably Catia V5), with experience of producing high-quality models and engineering drawings.

• Exceptional problem-solving skills and the ability to propose innovative ideas.

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.

• Ability to work closely and credibly with external stakeholders such as airlines, integrators and aircraft OEMs to develop solutions which successfully deliver the program.

• Ability to work under pressure, prioritise and manage conflicting demands.

• Committed, flexible and able to respond positively to changing priorities.

• Proficient in use of PLM/PDM systems (Preferably SmarTeam)

• Proficient in MS Office.

• Ability to apply good technical and commercial judgement, supported by Principal Engineer.

• Ability to undertake worldwide travel as required by business needs.

  Highly desirable

• Experience of aircraft interior or seating integration programs.

• Experience in LOPA development

• Knowledge of seating certification and OEM installation requirements

• Experience of developing and implementing best practice methodologies

• Experience of robustness and reliability testing

Benefits

• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Pension contributions up to 5%
• Healthcare cashback scheme
• Life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Retail discounts
• 37.5 hours per week 1 pm finish on a Friday
• Hybrid working (remote will be considered with requirements to visit the office in Northamptonshire when required)
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

We really want to hear from you, so dont miss your opportunity to join us! Once you apply, your CV will be held on our central database. Please do let us know if you do not wish for us to retain your details. If your application is successful, you will be contacted in due course.

Acro Aircraft Seating is an equal opportunities employer.

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