Product Design Engineer - KTP Associate

Job Category: Administration and Operations

Fixed Term: 24 months

Location: Barton Storage Systems Limited, Barton Industrial Park, Mount Pleasant, Bilston, West Midlands, WV14 7NG

Birmingham City University are looking to appoint a high calibre graduate (graduated within the last five years) as a Product Design Engineer (KTP Associate).

This role presents an exciting opportunity to work in collaboration with leading academics at Birmingham City University, to apply knowledge and technical innovation, delivered on site at the company. 

The Product Design Engineer (KTP Associate) should have a minimum 2.1 University qualification in a relevant subject area and graduated within the last five years. 

This Knowledge Transfer Project (KTP) is co-funded by a grant from Innovate UK and Barton Storage Systems Limited. It is therefore essential you understand the fundamentals of the KTP collaboration between a UK business and a University works to deliver benefits for each (the company, the university, and the graduate) For more information please go to www.ktp.org.uk

Personal Training & Development Budget: 

The Product Design Engineer (KTP Associate) will have access to a wider range of benefits including a personal development budget of £4,000 to upskill during the project. 

The successful candidate will be employed by Birmingham City University and seconded to work full-time onsite at Barton Storage Systems Limited to deliver the 24-month KTP project in partnership Birmingham City University and Barton Storage Systems. 

Barton Storage Systems Limited: 

Barton Storage Systems Ltd is a trade-only supplier of Storage, Materials Handling and Access Equipment through a nationwide distributor network across the UK and Europe. For more information please visit: https://bartonstorage.com/

The successful candidate will have full access to Birmingham City University’s resources such as offices, labs, and library to complete the KTP project (a project workplan written with KPIs and outcome deliverables has been written)

The Product Design Engineer (KTP Associate) will be supervised and mentored by both a lead academic and academic supervisor academics from Birmingham City University’s College of Architecture and Design within the Faculty of Arts Design and Media (ADM) as well as a company supervisor located at Barton Storage Systems Limited whose aim is to assist the Product Design Engineer (KTP Associate) to deliver the knowledge into Barton Storage Systems and successfully deliver the 24-month KTP project on behalf of Barton Storage Systems Limited and Birmingham City University. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities: 

The Product Design Engineer KTP Associate duties and responsibilities will include the following:

• The Associate will execute a work plan based 2 Year project “To accelerate new product development and enable intellectual property protection by creating an inhouse design resource and embedding digital design into Barton Storage System, a manufacturer of storage solutions.”
• The role requires the successful candidate to develop the use of new materials and designs for load bearing structures in custom-built shelving products. This will also involve the development of new ranges of products, using various manufacturing techniques including, but not limited to, injection moulded plastic, steel fabrication and aluminium extrusions.
• The work plan may change during the fixed term contract and the associate is expected to be adaptable and flexible during the KTP.
• The Associate will be expected to regular meetings/ presentations with management and the design team at Barton Storage Systems.
• The Associate must also be adept at applying their knowledge to commercial projects, driving value and making an impact where possible, with an ability to solve problems and create innovative physical prototypes using new/composite materials.

The role requires the successful candidate to:

• Implement cutting-edge innovation design using computer technology, for the Design to Manufacture of industry leading shelving storage solutions for Barton Storage Systems and set new standards in storage solutions.

The Product Design Engineer KTP Associate will be expected to interact with the senior management, suppliers and clients of the company as well as BCU academics. 

The Product Design Engineer KTP Associate must also be adept at applying their knowledge to commercial projects, driving value and making an impact where possible, with an ability to solve problems and create innovative solutions.

The Product Design Engineer KTP Associate must have the following key attributes to ensure the project’s successful completion.

Competencies, Skills and Experience: 

The Product Design Engineer KTP Associate will hold a relevant degree. This is normally a first degree (equivalent to a first class or 2:1 honours) in a Mechanical Engineering or Engineering Product Design discipline, a Master’s degree in a cognate discipline is acceptable.

Technical Competencies:

Must possess technical and professional knowledge, skills relevant to the role and specialist subject area, and the ability to apply those skills appropriately to ensure the achievement of Barton Storage System’s business goals and objectives. These include:

• Advanced knowledge in the use of 3D software such as ANSYS, SolidWorks or other leading 3D industry strength simulation software.
• An innovative and creative product design engineer using innovative materials as the main component in new product development.
• Management skills, project management, materials and competency in applied research methodology.
• Demonstrate research skills and company product knowledge.
• Materials costing, presentation skills, ability to work as a team member, commercial exposure to customers and suppliers.
• A realistic understanding of business and professional practice.

Essential:

• A minimum 2:1 undergraduate qualification in a Mechanical Engineering related field or Product Design degree with an emphasis on design for manufacture.
• Excellent communication skills to express ideas effectively, orally, graphically and in writing to articulate complicated problem-solving issues between the academics and the company project team members
• An ability to work to tight deadlines with diligence, attention to detail, and maintain high standards of work
• An ability and aptitude to work effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team; and self-management and planning skills to make optimum use of time
• Strong leadership skills in successfully implementing and embedding new innovations within a company or organisation
• Competency in the use of SolidWorks.

Desirable:

• MSc/PhD in a related subject or relevant experience 
• Experience in the use of SolidWorks for Design simulation and production.
• Academic acumen to enable successful reporting through research publications in academic journals and marketing/training materials
• A driving license and a willingness to travel to utility contracts throughout the UK
• Practical experience of working in the manufacturing industry.

On a personal note, the Associate should be enthusiastic, motivated, punctual, conscientious, trustworthy and work well within a team. 

For further information please contact Dr Panch Suntharalingam at panch.suntharalingam@bcu.ac.uk or Nuno Lourinho at nuno.lourinho@bcu.ac.uk

Please click the below link to download the Job Description:

JOB DESCRIPTION

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At the heart of our Strategy for 2030 and Beyond, it is our mission to enable our students to transform their lives and to achieve their potential. Through our education and research, and the roles our graduates go on to play in the world, we not only support individuals to transform their lives, but we also play a part in transforming society.

Located in the centre of the UK’s second city, we are a university with a long heritage of innovation and of making, dating back to our origins in 1843 when we were founded as the Birmingham Government School of Design.

Our heritage of making through innovation and its application through knowledge exchange, and of creative research and practice, today finds it expression in our STEAM agenda, in our research and enterprise, and in our commitment to challenge-based learning. Working across disciplines, and delivering impactful research and enterprise, interdisciplinarity is at the heart of the continuing transformation of our academic portfolio.