Research Fellow in Additive Manufacturing

Organisation

Cranfield University

School/Department

School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing

Based at

Cranfield Campus, Cranfield, Bedfordshire

Hours of work

37 hours per week, normally worked Monday to Friday. Flexible working will be considered.

Contract type

Fixed term contract

Fixed Term Period

Until 31 December 2025

Salary

Full time starting salary is normally in the range of £37,337 to £40,347 per annum

We welcome applications for this key research post from those with relevant knowledge and  experience in advanced welding processes, additive manufacturing and process or material science.

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity for you to contribute to a new industry project funded by Airbus on the optimisation of next-generation landing gear for commercial aircrafts. The vision is to develop a new design and manufacturing technology for landing gear using advanced additive manufacture, novel materials and new design methods. This will contribute to a new landing gear design methodology for manufacturing of lightweight, tailored structures optimised for particular load scenarios, and enable a new generation of sustainable aviation. Your main role will be to facilitate some of the novel designs through the utilisation of advanced mixed materials, topology optimisation and large-scale wire DED additive manufacturing. You will work closely with a multi-disciplinary  team of researchers, from the structural engineering, material performance, composite and digital engineering teams. You will be based in two different centres, Aircraft Integration Centre and Welding and Additive Manufacturing Centre. The aim of the project is to demonstrate the technology and build a sub-size demonstrator of a landing gear.

About You

You will have a PhD (or close to completion) in advanced welding processes, additive manufacturing and process or material science, or similar field and have demonstrable relevant experience and achievements within process development and material characterisation. You will also have good knowledge of material properties, processing, or process science. In addition, you will have a developing track record of publishing in high-quality journals, excellent communication skills, planning and organisation skills, and excellent problem-solving skills.

About Us

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 .

Cranfield Manufacturing and Materials has been following the ambitious strategy of developing a roadmap for Sustainable Manufacturing and Materials Sectors for 2050 by applying fundamental science and thought leadership via conceiving and maturing the concepts of Smart, Clean and Green manufacturing solutions agnostically across all sectors and through all tiers of the supply chain, and with SMEs as well as OEMs. This is to support the national aspiration of Net Zero UK by 2050. We offer world-class and niche postgraduate-level research, education, training and consultancy. We are unique in our multi-disciplinary approach by bringing together design, materials’ technology and management expertise. We link fundamental materials research with manufacturing to develop novel technologies and improve the science base of the manufacturing research. Our capabilities are unique, with a focus on simulation and modelling, and sustainability. They also include work in composite manufacture, metallic glasses, nanomaterials (graphene, carbon nanotubes, coatings and sensors), low energy casting, thermal barrier coatings and Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM). Find out more about our work here .

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. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme. We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity Working Families . Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working here .

Working Arrangements

Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners.

How to apply                                   

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Dr Wojciech Suder, Senior Lecturer in Laser Processing and Additive Manufacture, on (E): [email protected]

Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details on E: [email protected] . Please quote reference number 4809.

Closing date for receipt of applications:  12 May 2024