Contractor Senior Mechanical Development Engineer

Ricardo Deutschland GmbH; Shoreham-by-Sea; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - GBP 70,000; Part time

Job summary

A consulting and engineering firm is seeking a Senior Mechanical Development Engineer based in Shoreham-by-Sea, UK. This role includes managing teams, preparing proposals, and conducting rigorous testing on powertrain systems and components. You should possess a strong understanding of automotive engineering principles and be willing to work on-site or travel as necessary. The company values diversity and offers flexible work arrangements to support employee well-being.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Diversity and inclusion programs

Professional development support

Qualifications

• Understanding of engine component and system design for gasoline and diesel engines.
• Experience in automotive industry fault finding techniques.
• Strong ability to apply fundamental engineering principles.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team and oversee the technical tasks of projects.
• Prepare proposals and conduct system validation testing.
• Conduct investigations and technical reporting for customer inquiries.

Skills

Technical task management

Broad engineering knowledge of powertrain systems

Ability to coordinate information from multiple engineering departments

Understanding of automotive engineering drawings

Experience in fault finding techniques

Good presentation and reporting skills

Education

Good Engineering degree

Tools

CAE techniques

CFD techniques

Job description

Can't find the right opportunity? Send us your CV and we'll be in touch

Contractor Senior Mechanical Development Engineer

Contract Type: Contractor

Our vision is to create a safe and sustainable world.

Ricardo, member of WSP, is a global strategic, environmental, and engineering consulting company. With over 100 years of engineering excellence and employing close to 3,000 employees in more than 20 countries, we provide exceptional levels of expertise in delivering leading‑edge and innovative cross‑sector sustainable products and solutions. Every day, we enable our customers to solve the most complex and dynamic challenges to help achieve a safe and sustainable world.

The role will require an understanding in automotive components, systems and associated vehicle parts. Understanding of transmission operation would also be beneficial. The job will require close co‑operation with OEM, suppliers and test, design and analysis areas to define appropriate testing plans, analyse results and make recommendations for design changes on either new powertrain designs, vehicle interface systems or fault diagnostics projects. Projects may involve working alone or part of a cross‑functional and possibly international team.

Key Responsibilities

• Team management.
• Proposal preparation.
• Understanding of the product development process for powertrains & transmissions.
• System and component specifications.
• Rig and System validation testing.
• Instrumentation and data capture.
• FMEAs.
• DVP’s (Design Validation Plans)
• Structured problem solving i.e 8D, DAMAIC process etc.
• Test procedure preparation and release.
• Post test teardown and inspection.
• Metrology skills.
• An understanding of component manufacture, supplier liaison and design release process are also beneficial.
• Preparation and execution of component, system, engine and vehicle testing either at Ricardo or on off site with the customer.
• Specialist instrumentation.
• Prototype component manufacture.
• Component and system functional and durability test rigs.
• Functionality and durability engine dynamometer tests.
• Functionality and durability vehicle tests.
• Investigations and technical reporting to respond to customer powertrain enquiries on current and advanced technology on component or engine systems.
• Preparation of work proposals and project planning activities.
• Interfacing with engineering teams and specialists.

Qualification Requirements

A good Engineering degree is preferential but not essential. As well as a strong ability to apply fundamental engineering principles.

Professional and Personal Experience

• Technical task management of projects and engineers.
• Broad engineering knowledge of powertrain systems.
• Can work on client’s site / willing to travel.
• Ability to coordinate and understand information from multiple engineering departments.
• Understand engineering drawings.
• Experience of fault finding techniques used in the Automotive industry.
• Understanding of CAE and CFD techniques.
• Understanding of engine component and system design gasoline and Diesel engines with a basic knowledge of transmission operation.
• Good presentation and reporting skills.

Working Here

You will be warmly welcomed into our workplace where every voice matters. We are diverse thinkers and doers, coming together to create a culture of inclusion. We will support you to find your place. We will encourage you to use your passion and expertise to make a positive impact through the projects you work on. Your knowledge and desire to bring about change will be invaluable in helping deliver innovative solutions that support communities across the globe in becoming safer and more sustainable.

Work Life Balance

We offer flexible approaches to work, whether that is working from home, being in the office, or as a hybrid worker. We're happy to discuss flexible working arrangements. Wellbeing is at the core to our culture, allowing employees to flourish and to achieve their full potential.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Statement

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person's potential, and we'll help you reach yours. We have an ambitious diversity, equality, and inclusion approach as explained here. We value diversity; recognising that a more diverse workforce creates a richer and more varied working environment. Diversity also drives innovation, by allowing us to offer our clients the best consultancy service that we can. As part of our commitment to engage positively and pro‑actively with all our employees to ensure an inclusive culture, we are a recognised as a 'disability confident' employer.

Next Steps

Once you have submitted your application a member of our Recruitment Team will be in touch. Please be aware that the timing can vary dependent on the volume of applications that we receive for each role and in some cases, we may start to review applications prior to the closing date.

Ricardo is a Disability confident employer please advise the recruitment team via [e-mail] if you require any adjustments to support you throughout the recruitment process.