Principal Mechanical Engineer

Level: IC5

Department: Actuator & Mechanical

Location: Cambridge

About Xaar

Inkjet Innovator. Trusted Partner. Sustainable Future. Xaar is here to create a world where you can print anything you can imagine.

For more information, visit www.xaar.com.

Purpose of Role

The Principle Mechanical Engineer is a key member of the R&D team, capable of delivering highly robust and thoroughly tested mechanical design solutions as well as one capable of leading Mechanical Development on new product development projects.

Reporting to the Team Lead – Actuator & Mechanical; this role requires experience and skills across the full development lifecycle; from technical specification through design and verification, and into product integration and production.

The role will as such interface and interact with all other disciplines within R&D, Manufacturing, Product Management, Sales & Marketing & Customer Support as per project demands.

The role will typically be based at Xaar’s R&D headquarters at the Cambridge Research Park, Waterbeach, Cambridge however there will from time to time be a requirement to attend Xaar’s other R&D facility in Huntingdon as and when required.

Key Accountabilities

To interface with Project Management and the Project Team to identify design requirements: function, reliability, cost, serviceability, and ensure that the design integrates correctly.
Provision of estimates and schedules for allocated project tasks.
To produce assembly drawings and detail drawings specifying materials, machining tolerances and assembly notes.
To produce bills of materials specifying bought out components and their source of supply.
To obtain cost effective quotations from vendors for manufactured parts.
Responsible for the build, integration and test of mechanical sub-systems, including the writing of test specifications, planning of test programmes, collation of results and resolution of technical issues.
Defining appropriate, cost effective manufacturing techniques.
Understanding technical risks and devising and implementing mitigation plans.
Ensuring new product designs meet all the necessary requirements and mandatory standards.
Responsible for ensuring that mechanical New Product Developments are delivered on time and to quality.
Supporting product integration and acceptance testing.
Assists customer support in preparation of technical manuals, training courses etc. and supports resolution of design issues which occur during early product life.
Technical support to end customers.
Contributes to the continuous improvement of R&D processes in own discipline and related areas.

Knowledge, experience and qualifications:

Essential

· A minimum of 10 years product development and manufacture experience within high-tech R&D environments with awareness of discipline best practice.

· Relevant degree (BEng / MEng / PhD) in Mechanical Engineering or similar.

· Competence in use of Solidworks CAD system.

· Competence in use of FEA systems.

· Competence in use of PLM systems.

· Competence in use of Office software and MRP systems.

· Experience of the full life cycle of product development from concept through manufacturing & support to EOL.

· Experience of a wide range of manufacturing techniques including design for CNC, Sheet metal fabrication, moulding, casting, additive manufacturing etc.

· Sound materials and materials processing knowledge.

· Sound knowledge of low & high volume manufacturing techniques.

· Knowledge and experience of electro-mechanical system design and system integration.

· Experience of electro-mechanical packaging (PCB housing, switches, PCB interconnects etc.).

· Experience in design of motion systems; Mechanisms, motors, drive systems, bearings, rails, and mounting methods etc.

· Experience in design of fluid handling systems with consideration for materials compatibility.

· Experience in design for pneumatic systems.

· Experience in Safe machine design.

· Experience in design for human interaction and ergonomics.

· Experience in development of alignment tools, jigs, fixtures and processes for manufacturing implementation.

· Experience in DFM & DFA & Design for service and support for field replaceable units.

· Experience of specifying technical requirements & production of high quality technical reports.

· Experience of problem solving techniques through analytical methods.

· Experience of product development tools (e.g. FMEA, Risk assessment etc)

· Experience utilising rapid prototyping techniques.

Desirable

· Direct experience of design of Inkjet Print Systems.

Skills & behaviours:

Ability to communicate well to both technical and non-technical personnel using verbal and written styles.
Enjoys working in small, focused, teams working to tight deadlines and costs.
Conscientious and reliable taking pride in their work.
Able to work with autonomy, ensure multi-tasks are secured against project plan and budget.
Creative yet detail focussed.
Enthusiastic & Communicative.
Motivated by delivering quality work within planned timescales.
A structured, proactive approach - numerically focused.
Enjoys complex problem solving - up for the challenge.
Flexible approach with a ‘whatever it takes’ attitude.
Demonstrates appropriate interaction with others and fosters a positive working environment.
Supports changes and continues to perform effectively during times of uncertainty.
Customer (internal and external) focused.
Experience in working in a small/medium size ‘high tech’ company.
Commercially aware.