Job Title: Vehicle Integration Engineer – Durability & Robustness (PAT Leader)
Location: Gaydon, Warwickshire
Contract Type: 12 Months Rolling
Rate: Up to £29.39 per hour (Umbrella / Inside IR35)
Working Pattern: 40 Hours Per Week | Monday – Friday (Hybrid Position 3 days onsite)
Role Overview:
As the Durability & Robustness (D&R) PAT Leader, you are the guardian of the customer experience regarding vehicle longevity. You will lead the design, measurement, and balancing of durability attributes across vehicle programmes. Your primary goal is to ensure all vehicle targets are met through a mix of virtual simulation and physical testing (Rig, Driven, and Road Load Data), ensuring the vehicle is "signed off" as robust before it reaches the customer.
Key Responsibilities:
Attribute Strategy & Target Setting:
• Target Cascading: Define and cascade technical requirements from a vehicle level down to specific systems and components.
• Planning: Develop detailed Design Verification (DV) plans covering Road Load Data (RLD), rig testing, and driven durability cycles.
• Integration: Work with the Programme Attribute Team to ensure durability trade-offs are balanced against other vehicle attributes (e.g., weight or cost).
Validation & Technical Reporting:
• Test Management: Oversee the execution of all test activities, ensuring results are reported accurately against the DV plan.
• Issue Resolution: Identify technical failures and raise concise reports within 48 hours. Use the Automated Issues Management System (AIMS) to track these to resolution.
• Supplier Liaison: Collaborate with component engineers and external suppliers to drive the implementation of engineering solutions for identified durability failures.
Governance & Continuous Improvement:
• Gateway Delivery: Complete all necessary sign-off documentation for major programme milestones (Gateways).
• Lessons Learnt: Capture data from current vehicle cycles to inform and improve future vehicle architectures.
Technical Requirements & Experience:
Essential:
• Durability Principles: Solid understanding of Durability & Strength engineering, including data collection and stress/strain analysis.
• Systems Engineering: Familiarity with the V-Model, requirement decomposition, and verification principles.
• Problem Solving: Experience using structured problem-solving methodologies (e.g., 8D, 5 Whys, Fishbone).
• Automotive Knowledge: Broad understanding of whole-vehicle systems and how they interact under load.
Desirable:
• Software Tools: Proficiency in Excel for data analysis and CAD visualization tools (e.g., VisMockUp, TeamCenter).
• Testing Experience: Prior experience managing complex engineering test activities, specifically Road Load Data (RLD) or Rig testing.
• Cross-Functional Influence: Ability to manage stakeholders across different engineering functions to ensure attribute delivery.
Education & Qualifications:
• Degree: A relevant Engineering degree (Mechanical, Automotive, or Aerospace) or equivalent industrial experience is preferred.