VAVE Expert

Every minute of every day, Smiths Detection's threat detection and security screening technology helps to protect people and infrastructure, making the world a safer place.

Smiths Detection is a global leader in the development, manufacture and management of security and detection solutions designed to make the world a safer place. Our technology provides threat detection and screening solutions for customers in our key markets: aviation, ports and borders, defence, and urban security.

Our expertise spans 21 global offices, seven manufacturing sites and five R&D centres, with a global network of 3,500 dedicated colleagues contributing towards over 40 years at the frontline of advances in safety and security.

This results in careers built on variety and the opportunity to work on a range of state-of-the-art solutions, where you can develop your knowledge and experience every day.

Smiths Detection is seeking a VAVE Expert to drive Value Analysis / Value Engineering (VAVE), Functional Analysis and Design-to-Cost methodologies across our global portfolio of security and detection technologies.

This is an engineering-led role, not a procurement or sourcing position.

Working at the early stages of product development, you will partner with engineering teams to understand the functional purpose of products and assemblies, challenge design assumptions, and identify innovative ways to deliver optimum customer value at the lowest total lifecycle cost.

You will play a key role in shaping product architecture, influencing design decisions, improving competitiveness and supporting profitable innovation across our X-ray, trace detection and chemical detection product portfolios.

As the VAVE Expert, you will lead structured functional analysis and value engineering activities across both existing and new products.

You'll work closely with Systems, Electronics, Mechanical and Product Engineering teams to answer key questions such as:

• What is the true purpose of a product or subsystem?
• Is the current design the most effective way of delivering that function?
• Can the same customer value be achieved through an alternative architecture, technology or design approach?
• How can we optimise cost without compromising safety, performance, quality, serviceability or regulatory compliance?

This role goes beyond traditional cost engineering. Rather than simply reducing the cost of an existing design, you will use formal VAVE methodologies to influence product decisions early in the development lifecycle and maximise value for both customers and the business.

• Lead Value Analysis and Value Engineering assessments across new and existing products.
• Facilitate Functional Analysis workshops with engineering and cross-functional teams.
• Break complex products into functional building blocks and assess the value and cost associated with each function.
• Deploy Design-to-Cost and target costing methodologies within New Product Introduction (NPI) programmes.
• Influence concept, architecture and design decisions from a value and cost perspective.
• Challenge engineering assumptions and identify opportunities for simplification, standardisation and platforming.
• Conduct competitive benchmarking, product teardown and reverse-engineering activities.
• Lead supplier value engineering workshops and innovation sessions.
• Support make-versus-buy decisions and technology selection activities.
• Develop business cases for value improvement opportunities.
• Coach teams in VAVE principles, tools and best practices.
• Drive measurable cost reduction, margin improvement and product competitiveness initiatives.

This role is primarily aligned to our Hemel Hempstead site but offers a flexible hybrid…