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 responsibilities

• Take responsibility for product design from interpretation of customer requirements through to manufacture and installation
• Analyse products to ensure design integrity and performance specifications are achieved
• Establish and perform FEA and CFD analysis applicable to aerospace products
• Act as a technical focal point for FEA/CFD and provide guidance to other engineering users
• Conduct and participate in technical design reviews throughout the project lifecycle
• Perform Engineering Contract Reviews
• Act as an Aerospace Approval Signatory for applicable product categories
• Provide technical support to Production and Quality teams, including MRB decisions
• Provide technical support to Sales and Applications teams
• Work directly with customers to resolve technical requirements and engineering challenges
• Monitor and control project and unit costs against agreed budgets and profitability targets
• Liaise with Sales, Manufacturing, Quality, Purchasing, Estimating and subcontractors
• Deputise for the Engineering Manager when required

What you'll need

To succeed in this role, you'll bring:

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering
• Significant mechanical engineering experience within an aerospace environment
• Experience working with precision-machined aerospace components
• Strong understanding of fluid mechanics and pressure systems
• Proven experience carrying out FEA and CFD analysis
• Competence using Autodesk CFD
• Strong mathematical and analytical capability
• Project management experience
• Ability to produce clear and detailed technical reports
• Strong customer-facing and communication skills
• Full UK driving licence

Technical experience

Experience with the following would be particularly relevant:

• ANSYS FEA