Principal Research Engineer – Digital Engineering, Technology
GKN Aerospace
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Hybrid
Location: Bristol • United Kingdom
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Job Level
About the role
- Lead the definition and development of system and component designs for cryogenic-electrical power distribution across the full operating temperature range from 20 K to 70 °C, ensuring compliance with applicable safety, airworthiness, and certification requirements.
- Lead the definition and development of system architectures and concepts for MW-class cryogenic-electrical power distribution systems operating at temperatures down to 25 K, ensuring alignment with programme and business objectives.
- Own the end-to-end development of system requirements, providing governance across requirements management, safety assessment, risk mitigation and compliance through design into a validated and certifiable physical product.
- Define and govern design principles, material selections, and technology specifications, ensuring robust, scalable, and cost-effective solutions that meet performance, safety, and airworthiness expectations.
- Lead validation, verification and qualification strategies, defining compliance routes through analysis, simulation, and test (e.g. DO-160) and providing technical leadership to certification planning and engagement.
- Provide functional and technical leadership across multidisciplinary teams, chairing design and peer reviews, assuring technical quality of deliverables, and supporting capability growth through coaching and mentoring.
- Generate and protect intellectual property, shaping cryogenic technology development in line with GKN Aerospace Hydrogen Systems’ long-term technology roadmaps.
Requirements
- Minimum B.Eng degree or equivalent and qualified with 8 years relevant experience
- Strong understanding of thermodynamic and mechanical principles, with the ability to apply first-principles engineering to real-world technical challenges.
- Demonstrated experience in the development, integration, and evaluation of cryogenic systems.
- Experience with high-current power systems employing superconducting and/or hyperconducting technologies at cryogenic temperatures.
- Solid understanding of the effects of cryogenic environments on material properties and the resulting implications for system and component design.
- Experience across the full product development lifecycle for cryogenic equipment, from concept definition through detailed design, drawing development and technical review.
- Experience in functional and physical system development at component and system levels.
- Experience conducting and contributing to safety assessments and risk evaluations.
- Experience defining and managing technical work packages internally and with external partners, including specifications and statements of work.
- Experience reviewing, approving, and leading design reviews to assure technical quality and compliance.
Benefits
- Competitive salary dependent on experience
- Up to 15% Bonus
- Industry Leading Pension Scheme = we’ll match your contributions up to 8% on a 1 : 1.5 basis (Employer max contribution 12%)
- Life Assurance 8 x salary
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays
- Flexible working hours including the ability to finish at 12noon on a Friday
- Income protection
- Shopping discounts
- Cycle To Work Scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Virtual GP Clinic for you and immediate family
- A collaborative, dynamic working environment
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard Skills & Tools
cryogenic-electrical power distributionsystem architecturerequirements managementsafety assessmentrisk mitigationvalidationverificationqualification strategiesfirst-principles engineeringhigh-current power systems
Soft Skills
technical leadershipcoachingmentoringfunctional leadershipcommunicationcollaborationproblem-solvingdesign reviewpeer reviewgovernance
Certifications
B.Eng degreecertification requirements