Careers

Salary range: £37,174 - £45,413 per annum

FTE: 1 

Term: Fixed (24 months)

Closing Date: 31 March 2025

Location: AFRC, Renfrew

The University of Strathclyde in Glasgow possesses a large internationally rated Engineering Faculty with a proud history of successful joint ventures with industrial and enterprise partners. The Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), based at Inchinnan near Glasgow’s International Airport, has now been operational for more than ten years during which time Industrial, Academic and Government partners have worked together to establish a world leading research facility for the shaping of materials. The centre works closely with major industrial companies including Rolls-Royce and Boeing, and since 2011 it has been a part of the UK High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult. Since its launch the AFRC has achieved a rate of growth and industrial engagement which has surpassed expectations. As well as consolidating its primary strength in forming and forging technology, the centre is part of the National Manufacturing Institute, Scotland (NMIS) which will act as a focal point for high value manufacturing in Scotland.

We would like to see candidates with experience in one or more of a range of areas:

• Hot and Cold Sheet Metal Forming; with particular reference to processes like superplastic forming, hydroforming, incremental sheet forming, stretch forming, hot creep forming, press-brake forming, etc...

• Engineering design – component, tool and process design, including design for manufacture, CAD/CAM, and the development of design methodologies.

• New technology development and data analysis – the AFRC has a range of automation, control and instrumentation systems deployed both in-house and at customer facilities, and our engineers work to support experimental trials at the AFRC and off site to collate and analyse production data from a range of systems.

• Numerical simulation – we currently use a range of finite element modelling software including Abaqus, ESI PAM-STAMP and Autoform to simulate sheet metal forming processes. We develop new simulation frameworks and constitutive models, in addition to physical validation and verification experiments.

As a Manufacturing Engineer, you will assist in the delivery of the research activities as part of a team, working under the general supervision of senior colleagues. You will conduct literature reviews, collect and collate data, and undertake and record the outcomes of experiments. You will manage and prioritise your own workload and ensure that all activities are completed to deadlines and you will write up the results of your own research and contribute to the production of research reports and publications. You will input as a team member to administrative activities and assist, where required, with relevant teaching and knowledge exchange activities.

To be considered for the role, you will have a good honours degree and PhD / higher degree (or equivalent professional experience) in appropriate discipline. You will have sufficient breadth or depth of knowledge in the relevant discipline/s to contribute to knowledge exchange programmes and to the development of knowledge exchange activities. You will have the ability to conduct individual knowledge exchange projects, work directly and independently with clients, and to prepare new knowledge exchange proposals.

Whilst not essential for the role, applications are welcomed from candidates with: membership/working towards membership of a relevant Chartered/professional body (including the Higher Education Academy), experience of relevant student supervision and teaching activities.

For informal enquiries, please contact Hosam Elrakayby, Cold Sheet Forming Theme Lead, hosam.elrakayby@strath.ac.uk
 
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Salary range: £46,735 - £57,422 per annum 

FTE: 1.0

Term: Fixed - 3 years

Closing Date: 06 April 2025

Location: Inchinnan, Renfrew 

The AFRC is seeking to appoint an experienced Materials Knowledge Exchange (KE) Fellow to lead the delivery of high value research programmes focused on materials, materials processing and materials certification for forging, forming, and/or welding and joining operations.

A Materials KE Fellow is required to take ownership and lead a materials-focused branch of our CORE research program. While the primary focus will be on the titanium research program, covering the processing of existing and new alloys, microstructure control, and materials/microstructure modelling, we encourage applicants with experience in other materials to apply.

As a Knowledge Exchange Fellow, you will develop knowledge exchange objectives and proposals, engage in individual and collaborative knowledge exchange projects and plan, co-ordinate and implement knowledge exchange programmes to ensure the delivery of objectives.

You will write up reports, often as lead author, for external organisations, and further write up findings for additional dissemination (e.g. professional publications, peer review journal publication or presentation at conferences) as appropriate. You will generate interest in knowledge exchange programmes through engagement with industry and external bodies and have responsibility for the identification and acquisition of high value industrial funding for knowledge exchange projects. You will manage knowledge exchange teams as appropriate. You will participate in administrative activities within the Centre, NMIS and wider faculty, as required, including membership of Centre, and, on occasion, Faculty or University committees. You will be expected to work between the AFRC and its industrial and academic partners, with a strong emphasis on knowledge exchange.

To achieve the above, you will have research and/or industrial experience in the following technical areas:

• A broad knowledge of metallic materials and alloys, especially those relevant to the aerospace sector (e.g. Nickel based superalloys, Titanium alloys and Aluminium alloys), with a specialisation in Titanium alloys
• A good understanding of materials and the way that manufacturing processes can develop or modify material’s microstructure to achieve desired mechanical properties and stress states.
• Hands on experience on materials testing, i.e. characterisation and mechanical testing, and advanced methods of data analysis for materials.
• A broad knowledge and a good understanding of materials processing technologies and their purpose and utilisation in the manufacturing sector.

To be considered for the role, you will have a good honours degree (minimum of a 2:1 Honours degree) and PhD / higher degree (or equivalent professional experience) in an appropriate discipline for example in Materials Science, Materials Engineering or Mechanical Engineering; we are also interested in candidates with equivalent industrial experience. You will have a personal track record in carrying out knowledge exchange projects and a demonstrable track record in developing high quality knowledge exchange proposals and playing a leading role in attracting knowledge exchange funding. The successful candidate will have knowledge exchange interests which are consistent with the strategic direction of NMIS and will have the ability to plan and organise knowledge exchange programmes, and to pull together teams of academic professional staff and others as appropriate, to ensure project delivery for the client and benefits to the AFRC. NMIS and wider University.

*Whilst we seek to appoint at Grade 8, Knowledge Exchange Fellow level, candidates with less experience may also be considered for appointment. Dependent of the skills and experience of the candidate, appointment to Grade 7, Knowledge Exchange Associate, may be considered.

For informal enquiries, please contact Michael King, Materials and Testing Theme Lead - michael.king@strath.ac.uk

Previous applicants need not apply. 

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Salary range: £37,174 - £45,413 per annum

FTE: 1

Term: Open-ended

Closing Date: 16 April 2025

Location: NMIS, Renfrew

The University of Strathclyde is a leading international technological institution and has a long history of working with industry to deliver strong business growth from access to research and innovation expertise. The latest major initiative continuing to deliver on this track record is through the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS).

As a magnet for innovation in advanced manufacturing, the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) group of specialist R&D centres, supports manufacturing, engineering and associated tech businesses of all sizes, to thrive domestically and internationally through accelerating productivity, embracing new digital technologies and achieving net-zero targets.

We turn smart ideas into reality and deliver ground-breaking research.

Coming from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, our passionate team works alongside industry, academia, and the public sector to solve problems, train the workforce of the future and generate the creative ideas that will transform manufacturing.

Ultimately, we are growing the economy, developing a vibrant and skilled talent pool and helping create prosperous, sustainable communities.
This is an exciting opportunity to join the NMIS Digital Factory’s Design Engineering Team and support delivery of both high value collaborative Research & Development projects and challenging, fast-paced commercial projects.

The NMIS Digital Factory’s Design Engineering Team is seeking to appoint a Design Engineer to join the Mechanical Integrity and Optimisation theme, which has a remit for design assurance, structural analysis (FEA), Design for Manufacture and simulation driven optimisation. It is expected that the post holder will use and develop their skills to execute and advance specialist technical offerings, map and incubate state-of-the-art digital design toolsets (through research landscape reviews) to solve engineering challenges, promote solutions to prospective clients, and develop best practice. Outputs expected from this activity will include white papers, technology roadmapping, and simulation tool benchmarking. The post holder will also initiate, develop, and lead projects with the aim of driving industrial impact via the capabilities of a range of themes within the Design Engineering Team (Product and System Development, Market Acceptance, and CAD & Tooling Themes) and across NMIS.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work on a variety of design challenges within a range of industries and technology focus areas, leveraging the specialist manufacturing expertise of colleagues across the centre as well as an expansive and diverse portfolio of digital design tools supplied by NMIS members and partners. They will also be exposed to a vast network of stakeholder groups including NMIS members, sector industry groups, High Value Manufacturing Catapult centres, relevant departments, interest groups in the University of Strathclyde, and both new and existing industrial clients of NMIS.

The post holder will require the knowledge, skills and experience normally associated with a first degree and PhD for example. We are also interested in candidates with equivalent industrial experience. The post holder will have experience in design & manufacture of a range of products using a variety of materials and manufacturing processes

For informal enquiries, please contact Gordon Robertson, Mechanical Integrity & Optimisation Theme Lead (gordon.robertson.100@strath.ac.uk).

Click here for full details.pdf

Salary range: £32,546 - £36,130 per annum 

FTE: 1 

Term: Open-ended

Closing Date: 27 April 2025

Location: NMIS, Renfrew

The University of Strathclyde is a leading international technological institution and has a long history of working with industry to deliver strong business growth from access to research and innovation expertise. The latest major initiative continuing to deliver on this track record is through the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS).

As a magnet for innovation in advanced manufacturing, the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) group of specialist R&D centres, supports manufacturing, engineering and associated tech businesses of all sizes, to thrive domestically and internationally through accelerating productivity, embracing new digital technologies and achieving net-zero targets.

We turn smart ideas into reality and deliver ground-breaking research.

Coming from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, our passionate team works alongside industry, academia, and the public sector to solve problems, train the workforce of the future and generate the creative ideas that will transform manufacturing.

Ultimately, we are growing the economy, developing a vibrant and skilled talent pool and helping create prosperous, sustainable communities.
This is an exciting opportunity to join the NMIS Digital Factory’s Design Engineering Team and support delivery of both high value collaborative Research & Development projects and challenging, fast-paced commercial projects.

The NMIS Digital Factory’s Design Engineering Team is seeking to appoint an Assistant Design Engineer to join the Product and System Development Theme to support the delivery of technical work packages typically focussing on product and system design. Working closely with the team, the post-holder will be expected to utilise both conventional product development tools (e.g. product design specifications, decision matrices, CAD etc.) as well as emerging smart design tools, enabling an enhanced level of automation and integration in the design process. It is also encouraged that the applicant has an interest in AI tools and their applications, with particular focus on applying these tools to design engineering and product development challenges. 

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work on a variety of design challenges within a range of industries and technology focus areas, leveraging the specialist manufacturing expertise of colleagues across the centre as well as an expansive and diverse portfolio of digital design tools supplied by NMIS members and partners. They will also be exposed to a vast network of stakeholder groups including NMIS members, sector industry groups, High Value Manufacturing Catapult centres, relevant departments, interest groups in the University of Strathclyde, and both new and existing industrial clients of NMIS. The post holder will be part of project delivery teams both in the Design Engineering team and across the broader NMIS group, and will develop their design engineering competence through the delivery of agreed project outcomes and deliverables.

The post holder will also be offered the opportunity to develop in alignment with the needs of the theme, team, and NMIS. They will be supported in this by the organisational annual development review and capability mapping, with appropriate training and development opportunities being offered to support the professional growth of the successful candidate.

Applications are encouraged from final year students, who are projected to obtain a good first degree upon graduation.

For informal enquiries, please contact Robert Lynch, Product & System Development Theme Lead, r.a.lynch@strath.ac.uk 

Click here for full details.pdf