Principal Engineer

Are you an experienced Principal Mechanical Engineer or Senior Mechanical Design Engineer with a strong background in aerospace engineering, FEA/CFD and pressure systems?Do you enjoy taking technical ownership of complex products, leading design activity and providing specialist engineering support across the full product lifecycle?We're supporting a leading aerospace manufacturing business in Fareham who are looking to recruit a Principal Mechanical Engineer Aerospace to join their Engineering team.This is a senior technical opportunity where you'll take responsibility for product design from initial interpretation of customer specifications through concept, manufacture and installation, while becoming a key technical authority for FEA and CFD within the business.What's the role all about?As the Principal Mechanical Engineer , you'll take technical ownership of aerospace products and projects, ensuring designs meet customer specifications, performance requirements and engineering standards.You'll provide specialist expertise in fluid mechanics, pressure systems, FEA and CFD , conducting analysis to verify product integrity and performance.Alongside your technical responsibilities, you'll support the wider Engineering team, participate in design reviews, work directly with customers and provide technical guidance to Production and Quality.You'll also deputise for the Engineering Manager when required, making this an excellent opportunity for an experienced engineer looking for greater technical responsibility and influence.Key responsibilitiesTake responsibility for product design from interpretation of customer requirements through to manufacture and installationAnalyse products to ensure design integrity and performance specifications are achievedEstablish and perform FEA and CFD analysis applicable to aerospace productsAct as a technical focal point for FEA/CFD and provide guidance to other engineering usersConduct and participate in technical design reviews throughout the project lifecyclePerform Engineering Contract ReviewsAct as an Aerospace Approval Signatory for applicable product categoriesProvide technical support to Production and Quality teams, including MRB decisionsProvide technical support to Sales and Applications teamsWork directly with customers to resolve technical requirements and engineering challengesMonitor and control project and unit costs against agreed budgets and profitability targetsLiaise with Sales, Manufacturing, Quality, Purchasing, Estimating and subcontractorsDeputise for the Engineering Manager when requiredWhat you'll needTo succeed in this role, you'll bring:Degree in Mechanical EngineeringSignificant mechanical engineering experience within an aerospace environmentExperience working with precision-machined aerospace componentsStrong understanding of fluid mechanics and pressure systemsProven experience carrying out FEA and CFD analysisCompetence using Autodesk CFDStrong mathematical and analytical capabilityProject management experienceAbility to produce clear and detailed technical reportsStrong customer-facing and communication skillsFull UK driving licenceTechnical experienceExperience with the following would be particularly relevant:ANSYS FEAAutodesk CFDAutodesk Inventor 3D Solid ModellingFluid mechanicsPressure systemsPrecision-machined componentsMathcad / TK SolverMicrosoft ProjectDesign verification and analysisDesirableTechnical Engineering Apprenticeship alongside degree-level qualificationsFiltration industry experienceMathcad or TK Solver experiencePrevious experience acting as a technical approval/signatory authorityAbout youYou're an experienced engineer who is comfortable taking technical ownership and being the person others turn to for complex engineering challenges.You'll be:Methodical and analyticalTechnically strong and hands-onAccurate and thoroughA confident problem solverSelf-motivated and accountableA strong communicatorComfortable working directly with customersWilling to travel internationally occasionally when requiredWhy join?This is an excellent opportunity to step into a genuine Principal Engineer position where you'll have significant technical influence rather than simply managing individual design projects.You'll become a key technical authority within the Aerospace Engineering team, working across product design, simulation, customer requirements, manufacturing and quality while helping develop the business's FEA and CFD capability .Interested?If you're an experienced Principal Mechanical Engineer, Principal Design Engineer, Senior Mechanical Design Engineer, FEA Engineer or Aerospace Mechanical Engineer looking for your next challenge, we'd love to hear from you.Apply today or contact Kingdom People for a confidential discussion.Kingdom People are acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.TPBN1_UKTJ