Turbine Mechanical and Aerothermal Engineer - Knowledge Transfer Research Assistant/Associate (Fixed Term)

Department/Location: Department of Engineering, West Cambridge & Lincoln, UK 

PCA Engineers Limited (PCA) and Cambridge University's Whittle Laboratory have secured funding for a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project to develop and enable the commercialisation of a novel low-cost, high-efficiency turbine for Waste Heat Recovery systems. The 2-year project involves the manufacture of a turbine design, and the design, assembly and commissioning of an experimental rig on which to test a baseline and a redesigned turbine. 

PCA and Cambridge University are looking to recruit a graduate to work as an Associate on this project. Ideally, the Associate will be an engineer with turbomachinery or aerothermodynamics as their key area of expertise, combined with at least an entry level knowledge of structural mechanics, electrical machinery and manufacturing. 

The position is for a fixed term of 24 months, with the opportunity of further employment with PCA once the project concludes. The successful candidate will be employed by Cambridge University and will be seconded to PCA. The Associate will be based primarily at PCA (60% of the time), and at the Whittle Laboratory (30%), with the remainder 10% given to personal development and training through the KTP scheme.

Key responsibilities and duties: 

• Transfer and embed knowledge from the experimental testing at the Whittle Laboratory to PCA's workflow.
• Lead and manage the project.
• Support and participate in project reporting and writing research publications. 

Skills, qualifications and experience required:

• Applicants must have (or be close to obtaining) a PhD in aerodynamics, fluid mechanics or turbomachinery, or equivalent experience.
• Experience of previous work involving sourcing components and assembling an experimental rig.
• Experience of experimental work in a turbomachinery-related area.
• Knowledge of mechanics, electrical and manufacturing disciplines.
• Working with initiative and managing workload to meet deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills.

Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD or equivalent experience. Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will be appointed at Research Assistant level, which will be amended to Research Associate once the PhD has been awarded.

Salary Ranges: Research Assistant: £27,929 - £32,348; Research Associate: £34,308 - £42,155.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 24 months in the first instance.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please visit: http://www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/39201. 

Please ensure that you upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV), publications list and a covering letter in the Upload section of the online application. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we may not be able to consider these as part of your application. Please submit your application by midnight on the closing date.

If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process, please contact: Juliet Teather: email jet63@eng.cam.ac.uk (Tel +44 1223 337 581). Technical questions may be addressed to Maria Vera-Morales, mv234@cam.ac.uk.

Please quote reference NM35129 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Advert information