Research Associate in Compliant Wing Fairing Manufacturing

The role

This post is a Morphing Aerospace Structures focused Post-Doctoral research position at the Research Associate or Senior Research Associate level, with a duration of 5 months. This position specifically focused on the development of compliance based morphing wing fairing structures. In particular, the successful applicant will design, manufacture, and test 3D printed prototypes of deformable wing fairings using a combination of elastomeric and polymer materials. The wing fairings are being developed for application to future commercial aircraft wing concepts, building on a significant body of previous research work on compliance-based morphing structures at the University of Bristol led by Prof. Benjamin Woods.

What will you be doing?

This role will undertake design and manufacturing activities to develop prototypes of increasing sophistication that demonstrate the ability to manufacture a particular, existing, compliant morphing structural concept into the complex, fully three-dimensional shapes required for it to be used on a morphing fairing that covers a moving joint on an aircraft wing. This will entail extensive 3D printing with multi-material 3D printers, including the use of highly deformable elastomeric materials. Design iterations will be informed my various forms of experimental testing.

You should apply if

You have extensive experience of 3D printing complex shapes, ideally including the use of difficult to print elastomeric materials (e.g. TPU), a strong track record in the development and design of aerospace structures, experience with morphing structures, experimental testing skills, and a relevant degree.

Additional information

To find out more about what it's like to work in the Faculty of Engineering, and how the Faculty supports people to achieve their potential, please see our staff blog:

https://engineering.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/category/engineering-includes-me/

Contract type: Fixed term contract until 31/12/2026

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on 26/05/2026

Shortlisting is due to take place on 27/05/2026

Interviews are expected to take place on 08/06/2026

For informal queries please contact: Prof. Benjamin Woods, ben.k.s.woods@bristol.ac.uk

Our strategy and mission

Available documents

• Faculty of Science & Engineering Further Particulars 2024-25.pdf
• ACAD108576 - Research Associate in Compliant Wing Fairing Manufacturing - JD.pdf

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