Job Description:

Senior Stress Engineer
Location: Cambridgeshire
Job Type: Full-Time | Permanent

The Opportunity
Wolviston Management Services are delighted to be supporting our client, a highly respected and established organisation specialising in advanced manufacturing, in the recruitment of an experienced Senior Stress Engineer to join their Engineering team.
 
This is an excellent opportunity to join an innovative and forward-thinking engineering business, recognised for developing and delivering complex, high-performance composite structures and solutions for technically demanding applications across the aerospace, marine and wider engineering sectors.
Working within a highly skilled engineering environment, you will play a key role in the development, analysis and optimisation of advanced composite structures, ensuring products meet the highest standards of structural integrity, performance and manufacturability.
We are particularly interested in hearing from experienced Stress Engineers with a strong background in composite materials, finite element analysis and structural engineering, who are looking to take on a technically challenging position within a growing specialist organisation.
 
The Role
As Senior Stress Engineer, you will be responsible for providing specialist stress analysis and structural engineering expertise across a range of advanced composite projects, supporting product development from initial concept through to design validation and manufacture.
Reporting to the Engineering Department Lead, you will undertake complex mechanical and structural analysis activities, ensuring designs meet customer specifications, performance requirements and relevant engineering standards.
This is a technically focused position requiring a strong understanding of composite structures, mechanical loading conditions and structural performance, alongside the ability to provide technical leadership and support to wider engineering and project teams.
You will work closely with Design, Manufacturing, Project Management and external stakeholders to develop innovative engineering solutions while maintaining a strong focus on quality, cost, delivery and continuous improvement.
 
Key Responsibilities
Stress Analysis & Structural Engineering

• Carry out detailed stress analysis and structural assessments of advanced composite components and assemblies.
• Perform static, dynamic, fatigue and damage tolerance analysis to assess structural performance and integrity.
• Develop and analyse finite element models to evaluate mechanical loading conditions and structural behaviour.
• Utilise specialist engineering software, including Nastran, Patran, Apex and Dytran, to support structural analysis activities.
• Assess the behaviour of fibre-reinforced composite materials under a range of operating and loading conditions.
• Apply knowledge of composite failure modes, testing techniques and structural design principles.
• Support the design and development of new products, ensuring structural performance and manufacturability are considered throughout the engineering process.
• Provide technical recommendations to improve existing products, designs and manufacturing processes.

Technical Leadership & Project Support

• Provide specialist stress engineering knowledge and technical guidance to internal engineering and project teams.
• Take a leading role in engineering programmes, ensuring technical requirements and customer expectations are achieved.
• Review engineering calculations, analysis results and technical documentation.
• Undertake technical checking and signatory responsibilities where required.
• Support the development of innovative engineering concepts and solutions to complex technical challenges.
• Coach and mentor less experienced engineers, supporting their technical development and knowledge.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary engineering teams to ensure successful project delivery.
• Liaise with customers, suppliers and other external stakeholders to ensure technical requirements are understood and achieved.

Technical Documentation & Compliance

• Produce detailed technical reports, structural analysis documentation and engineering presentations.
• Clearly communicate analysis findings, technical recommendations and engineering conclusions.
• Ensure engineering activities are completed in accordance with agreed project specifications, budgets and timescales.
• Support the use of product lifecycle management systems to maintain accurate engineering information.
• Contribute to the resolution of technical issues through root cause analysis and corrective action implementation.
• Ensure engineering solutions consider performance, cost, manufacturing feasibility and customer requirements.

Continuous Improvement & Innovation

• Identify opportunities to improve engineering processes, product performance and operational efficiency.
• Support the introduction of new technologies, analytical methods and engineering techniques.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives aimed at reducing costs, improving quality and increasing efficiency.
• Promote a collaborative approach to problem-solving and technical development.
• Maintain awareness of advancements in stress engineering, composite materials and structural analysis methodologies.

What We're Looking For
We are keen to hear from candidates who can demonstrate:

• A degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or a related engineering discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Significant experience in stress analysis and structural engineering, ideally involving advanced composite materials.
• Strong knowledge of fibre-reinforced composite structures and associated mechanical analysis techniques.
• Experience performing static, dynamic, fatigue and damage tolerance analysis.
• Proficiency in structural analysis software, including Nastran, Patran, Apex and Dytran.
• Experience developing finite element models and evaluating structural behaviour under different loading conditions.
• Knowledge of composite material properties, failure mechanisms and testing methodologies.
• Previous experience working within a manufacturing or product development environment.
• Experience using product lifecycle management systems.
• Strong analytical, technical problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
• Ability to produce detailed technical reports and communicate complex engineering information effectively.
• Experience managing engineering projects and working within multidisciplinary teams.
• Previous experience reviewing and checking engineering calculations and analysis documentation.
• Excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills.
• A proactive approach to continuous improvement, innovation and technical development.

Experience within aerospace, marine or other industries involving high-performance composite structures would be particularly advantageous.
We would also welcome applications from candidates with a strong background in fibre-reinforced composite structures and relevant mechanical analysis experience, even where their qualifications or industry background differ.