Research Assistant or Research Fellow in Data Communication & Data Management

Fixed Term Contract for 42 Months

Flexible working will be actively considered

Full time starting salary for Research Assistant is normally in the range of £26,860 to £30,513 per annum.

Full time starting salary for Research Fellow is normally in the range of £35,559 to £39,434 per annum

Location: Cranfield, Bedfordshire

Cranfield University School of Aerospace Transport and Manufacturing and the IVHM Centre welcomes applications from engineers - scientists with expertise in computer engineering and/or programming and/or algorithm deployment within the aviation sector covering intelligent sensing and acquisition and knowledge of data communication and data management of aircraft systems health management.

About the Role

The purpose of this post is to support and deliver to an industry funded project led by a major aircraft equipment manufacturer. You will be responsible for undertaking high quality research associated with the Cranfield University project work package in Data Management System that will be developed, enabling secure transfer of data from aircraft to the database. You will define the architecture of the data management system, as well as design and develop the onboard and ground base health management platforms. Furthermore, you will develop the middleware to ensure high bandwidth and secure communication between the platforms and build the data storage mechanism in the ground base platform to allow secure and easy consumption of the data. You will also be responsible for managing the research tasks, organising project meetings, writing project deliverables and coordinating research activities and will need excellent interpersonal skills.

About You

For Research Assistant you will hold a BEng and/or MSc in an aerospace / mechanical / electrical / computer engineering subject, whilst for Research Fellow you will be educated to doctoral level in an aerospace / mechanical / electrical / computer engineering subject. Knowledge of sensors and sensors positioning, as well as analysis and processing of aircraft sensors data is essential for the post. Expertise in algorithm deployment covering intelligent sensing and acquisition for aircraft systems health management would be an advantage. You will be confident in communicating with external partners professionally and skilled in project management and report writing. 

About Us

As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact here.

The Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM) Centre is a joint effort by Industry and Academia to develop state of the art diagnostic and prognostic capabilities that change the way services are provided today. The IVHM Centre was launched by Cranfield University, Britain’s premier postgraduate, research intensive university together with Boeing, Rolls Royce, BAE Systems, Meggitt and Thales in 2008. It is located at Cranfield University’s Cranfield site. The Centre is now globally recognized, having defined the subject area and further developing new areas of expansion. The development of the Centre, along with other areas in the University, significantly contributed to the recent DARTeC (Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre) proposal success. Through DARTeC, the IVHM Centre is leading the MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) developments and activities with expertise and capabilities in UAV-Robotics Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) inspections, sensor monitoring, and advanced digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Twins (DT), tools that could be used to synchronize, monitor, and improve all processes related to Aircraft MRO. 

For further information please visit:

https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/centres/integrated-vehicle-health-management

Our Values and Commitments

Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more here.

We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme. We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity Working Families. Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working here.

Working Arrangements

Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners.

How to apply                                    

For an informal discussion, please contact Prof Nico Avdelidis, Head of IVHM Centre on np.avdel@cranfield.ac.uk

Apply online now. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details on E: hrrecruitment@cranfield.ac.uk. Please quote reference number 4403.

Closing date for receipt of applications: 23 February 2023