Principal Engineer in Digital Manufacturing

The Research Centre for Manufacturing and Materials (CMM) is recruiting a Principal Engineer in Digital Manufacturing to provide technical leadership across applied research, industrial collaboration and the development of digital manufacturing capability. Working with colleagues at the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME), you will turn industrial challenges into practical, validated engineering solutions.

You will lead the technical planning and delivery of projects involving digital twins, manufacturing simulation, industrial data systems and intelligent automation. You will connect physical equipment, sensors and production data with models and analytical tools, ensuring that solutions are reliable, maintainable and suitable for their intended use. Your work will support improvements in productivity, quality, resource efficiency and manufacturing decision-making.

You will shape technical proposals, scope and cost engineering activities, coordinate resources and mentor engineers and technicians. Working with academic leads and industrial partners, you will develop demonstrators, support commissioning and industrial trials, and contribute to collaborative research, consultancy and continuing professional development. You will help define future equipment and software investment and promote effective approaches to data quality, interoperability, documentation and secure data handling.

You will be an experienced engineer with a record of leading the delivery of complex digital manufacturing projects. You will combine strong practical problem-solving with the ability to understand production requirements, select appropriate technologies and demonstrate measurable benefits. You will have depth in one or more areas such as digital twins, simulation, industrial connectivity, data engineering, automation or manufacturing analytics, alongside the ability to integrate complementary expertise.

You will bring practical experience of developing or integrating software, models and industrial systems, with a disciplined approach to testing, validation and technical documentation. You will be confident managing delivery against agreed scope, budget and timescales, communicating with customers and collaborators, and supporting the development of colleagues.

Experience of industrial technology transfer, commercially funded engineering work, artificial intelligence for manufacturing, digital traceability or circular manufacturing would be advantageous. We welcome candidates from industry, research and technology organisations, and higher education.

A degree or equivalent qualification in manufacturing, mechanical, electrical or electronic engineering, automation and control, computer science, or a relevant discipline, or substantial equivalent professional engineering experience is required. A relevant postgraduate qualification and professional registration, or progress towards it, would be advantageous.

Benefits include: Excellent Employers Pension Contribution; 30 days Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays; New Holiday Purchase Scheme up to 5 additional days; Life Assurance 4 x Salary; BUPA Cash Plan; 50% off Tuition Fees for staff dependants; CU Reward Scheme – Discounts across a range of High Street/Online Retailers; New Electric Car Scheme; Cycle To Work Scheme.