School/Department: School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing
Based at: Off Campus
Hours of work: 37.5 hours normally worked Monday to Friday. Flexible working hours between 7am and 5pm.
Contract type: Fixed term contract
Fixed Term Period: 24 months
Salary:  25,000 to 30,000 per annum, dependent upon qualifications and experience (37.5 hours per week), plus 4,667 personal development budget
Apply by: 15/06/2023

Role Description

An exciting opportunity to work as a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Associate has arisen as part of a collaboration project between Dunlop Aircraft Tyres Limited (Dunlop) and Cranfield University. The project will focus on a sector-leading fatigue prediction tool to allow for rapid product development and expansion of Dunlop s aircraft tyre product line.

About the Role

Your role will be to lead the development of numerical tools for the fatigue analysis of aircraft tyres. As a KTP Associate, you will be required to work within a team of experienced engineers to implement a numerical model for the stress analysis of aeronautical tyres and the design and delivery of material testing and full-scale testing.

About You

This role requires strong skills in finite element analysis (Abaqus), ideally in the context of explicit simulation. Knowledge of stress analysis, material behaviour and characterisation of composites and elastomers would also be desirable in this role. This role would suit an independent learner with excellent stress analysis skills and the ability to work with complex FE models. Previous experience of linear stress analysis is also essential. You will hold a minimum of a Masters in Mechanical, Material or Aeronautical Engineering and/or preferably a PhD in one of these areas. Equivalent industrial experience working in the field of fatigue and damage mechanics is also suitable. Previous experience working with tyre design and stress analysis is desirable but not essential.

In return, the successful applicant will have exciting opportunities for career development in this key innovation-leading position, and will be at the forefront of implementing world leading research, joining a supportive team and environment.

About Us

You will be based at Dunlop s facilities in Birmingham, working closely with the Dunlop team and academics from the Cranfield Advanced Vehicle Engineering Centre (AVEC).

Dunlop Aircraft Tyres Ltd.

Dunlop Aircraft Tyres specialises in the design, manufacture and testing of tyres, mainly for commercial aircraft. For more than 100 years Dunlop Aircraft Tyres has represented excellence in the aviation industry and is today the world's only specialist manufacturer and retreader of aircraft tyres. With over 500 approvals, Dunlop Aircraft Tyres can supply tyres for over 300 different types of aircraft in the civil and military aviation market. The organisation is committed to providing airplane operators around the globe with new or retreaded airplane tyres of the highest quality and customer service of the highest standard. Dunlop s international customer base includes major international airlines, aircraft constructors, wheel and brake manufacturers and maintenance facilities.

Cranfield University

As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact here.

The AVEC Centre is one of four within the Transport systems department of the School of Aerospace, AVEC delivers research across a range of specialist areas associated with vehicle engineering to a wide range of industrial sectors from automotive manufacturers to space vehicle research teams, but always with a strong focus on improving vehicle performance and/or reducing the environmental impact and energy consumption of a vehicles manufacture and use.

This work includes activities relating to the use of materials (nano-composites, composites, elastomers and plastics), high performance engineering related to motorsport, off-road vehicle design optimisation, fundamental terra-mechanics, and structural crash-worthiness and vehicle safety. Our work on battery management system modelling is world leading and we have a significant expertise in wheel tyre and brake systems, hybrid powertrain optimisation as well as advanced vehicle control and chassis dynamics.

Our Values and Commitments

Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more here.

We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. Find out about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working here. We are currently piloting hybrid working arrangements at both Cranfield and Dunlop.  This means most staff are spending most of their time working from the office where job roles allow.

How to apply

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Dr Marzio Grasso Senior Lecturer E: Marzio.Grasso@Cranfield.ac.uk

Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details on E: hrrecruitment@cranfield.ac.uk. Please quote reference number 4555.

Closing date for receipt of applications: 15 June 2023