Principal Mechanical Development Engineer

Hybrid - commutable to office location, On site - within office location listed

Pushing Boundaries: a World leader in propulsion engineering from concept to production Ricardo is a trusted engineering partner specialising in complex propulsion, driveline, and energy systems. We work with customers globally to deliver end-to-end solutions from initial design through to full production. For over 110 years, we have been at the forefront of world changing engineering innovation, partnering with many of the world’s most ambitious organisations to improve performance, push boundaries, and accelerate progress.
Headquartered in Shoreham by Sea (UK), Ricardo brings together more than 1,000 experts and delivers in excess of 200 major programmes globally at any given time. For more information, visit

The Role

Due to the expansion of business within the Ricardo Development Department we are actively searching for Principal Development Engineer to work on powertrain, transmission, industrial focused projects across a wide spectrum of applications and their associated systems and sub-systems. The successful candidate will be based at our Shoreham or Leamington Spa office but also be flexible to work at other Ricardo sites and at customer locations in the U.K. (for a pre-agreed period of time if the project requires it).

The role will require a qualified and experienced mechanical engineer, with a good understanding in automotive, industrial and marine components, systems and associated vehicle parts. Understanding of transmission design would also be beneficial. The job will require close co-operation with stakeholder areas such as test, design, analysis, attributes, business development, metallurgical and chemical laboratories as well as suppliers to facilitate FMEAs and define appropriate design validation plans (DVPs).The

role will require an element of team management, analysis of test and analysis results and make recommendations for design changes on either new powertrain designs, vehicle interface systems or lead failure investigation projects. Projects may involve working alone or part of a cross-functional and possibly international team.

The ideal candidate will be a commercially aware professional engineer, degree educated with an acceptable level of man management skills

Key Responsibilities

• Team management.
• Proposal preparation.
• Understanding of the product development process for powertrains & transmissions.
• System and component specifications.
• Rig and System validation testing.
• Instrumentation and data capture.
• FMEAs.
• DVP’s (Design Validation Plans)
• Structured problem solving i.e 8D, DAMAIC process etc.
• Test procedure preparation and release.
• Post test teardown and inspection.
• Metrology skills.
• An understanding of component manufacture, supplier liaison and design release process are also beneficial.
• Preparation and execution of component, system, engine and vehicle testing either at Ricardo or on off site with the customer:

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Specialist instrumentation.

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Prototype component manufacture.
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Component and system functional and durability test rigs.

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Functionality and durability engine dynamometer tests.
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Functionality and durability vehicle tests.

• Investigations and technical reporting to respond to customer powertrain enquiries on current and advanced technology on component or engine systems.
• Preparation of work proposals and project planning activities.
• Interfacing with engineering teams and specialists.

Qualification Requirements

• A good Engineering degree is preferential but not essential.

Key Skills and Experience

• As well as a strong ability to apply of fundamental engineering principles. Relevant experience in the automotive engineering industry and in the field of mechanical development is essential. Initiative and interpersonal skills are essential, as are strong written communication, PC and presentation skills.
• Technical task management of projects and engineers.
• Broad engineering knowledge of powertrain systems.
• Can work on client’s site / willing to travel.
• Ability to coordinate and understand information from multiple engineering departments.
• Understand engineering…