Finite Element Analyst

Company Overview:

Excelitas designs and manufactures market leading Optronic solutions for Defense & Aerospace applications. Key markets include head up displays for commercial airliners, helmet mounted displays for 4th & 5th generation fast jet platforms, night vision for the dismounted soldier, and advanced electro-optics for airborne, maritime and vehicle platforms. Our diverse product range are enabled by the development and application of innovative technologies and engineering solutions. To further expand our portfolio Excelitas is seeking an exceptional individual to develop and deliver our next-generation products and technologies.

Position Outline:

We are seeking an experienced, highly-motivated FEA analyst to join our multi-disciplinary engineering team. This senior level position offers the opportunity to work within a stimulating environment whilst engaging with a dedicated and professional team. Knowledge and previous regular usage of FEA tools, ideally ANSYS, over several years at a responsible level, is essential for this role. You will play a significant part in producing reliable, competitive, world beating opto-mechanical solutions for specialist, challenging military and civil high precision applications.

Key Responsibilities:

Main responsibilities and duties will typically include:

• Responsible for leading the FEA capability and analysis on complex Opto-mechanical solutions for next generation products.
• Review products and define / advise on work packages necessary to ensure mechanical quality and performance to specification is achieved.
• Perform analyses of opto-mechanical designs to impact the solutions, increase performance and reliability, and recommend improvements to designs from the results (e.g. concept configuration, geometry, material selection). Typical analyses include brittle failure (Weibull), structural rigidity (e.g., mechanisms, global stiffnesses, optical deformations, mass), optimising line-of-sight (e.g., under random vibration and thermal heating), survivability (e.g. structure under gunfire shock, optical component stresses due to transient thermal heating and mounting) and lens / mirror mounting definition. CFD is also used to assess air flow and heat transfer.
• Contribute to and present proposals to customers and provide the on-going customer interface as the project develops, presenting results of analyses within internal and external design reviews.
• Manage and provide consultation and recommendations on all critical on-site opto-mechanical analyses.
• Lead the opto-mechanical analysis capability by providing general instruction, guidance and mentoring in mechanical analysis related issues to all Mechanical Designers. This includes the development of intermediate-level analysts to provide higher-level support.
• Create problem solving programs / processes / guides for general use, to assist the department in ‘designing to meet specification’.
• Provide a continuous developing growth in mechanical analyses for Excelitas products and new technologies. This may include techniques such as composite analysis, topology optimisation and additive manufacture simulation.
• Authoring and presentation of papers at international conferences.
• Liaison with Development and Test facilities to ensure products are developed for high performance and reliability.

Qualification & Experience:

• Educated to at least first degree level in Engineering Mathematics, Mechanical / Aeronautical Engineering or equivalent.
• Proficient written (reports, proposals, white papers) and verbal skills (technical presentations).
• Proficient in the use of Excel and Visual Basic to create working analysis tools.
• Proficient in use of FEA to perform analyses such as Random Vibration, Shock, SRS, time history multi-phase / multi-directional acceleration, transient thermal conduction / convection / radiation, non-linear, plasticity, friction clamping, hyper-elasticity e.g. of adhesives, optimisation.
• A good working knowledge of CAD, ideally CREO.
• Proven record of independent work with minimum guidance while executing deliverables.

Desirable Experience & Skills:

• NAFEMS registered analyst (or equivalent).
• Chartered Engineer or Fellow with IMechE, RAeS or equivalent.
• Minimum of 7 years regular FEA experience (ideally using ANSYS) at a responsible level.
• Experience of analysis of opto-mechanical systems.
• Proficient in use of FEA to perform analyses such as Explicit impact / drop, Composites Topology Optimisation and Additive Manufacture simulation. Also, use of CFD.
• Experience of working within the defence industry and delivering solutions to the appropriate standards

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