Chief Integration Engineer - Hydrogen Fuel Cell Systems
Cranfield Aerospace Solutions, United Kingdom

In support of Cranfield Aerospace Solutions (CAeS) development of sustainable aircraft propulsion, this role will lead the development of CAeS capability for the integration of hydrogen fuel cells into aircraft systems.

Role and Responsibilities:

• To act as the Cranfield Aerospace Solutions Ltd (CAeS) intelligent customer for outsourced Hydrogen Fuel Cell Systems (HFCS)
• To monitor the engineering development of suppliers' designs for HFCS, especially the evolution of mass, volume, performance and other cardinal requirements, to meet CAeS specifications
• To identify and escalate within CAeS any issues, risks or opportunities associated with outsourced HFCS
• To facilitate engineering interaction between the supplier’s HFCS design team and the CAeS Engineering team
• To define and control the physical interfaces between the supplier’s HFCS and the CAeS project aircraft installation and systems
• To gain a thorough functional understanding of the supplier’s HFCS design at system, sub-system and component level, and including component selection and functional optimization to a sufficient level for CAeS to plan how to transition the HFCS design into series production (where applicable)
• To be the CAeS interface with the HFCS supplier’s industrial engineering team
• To lead the transition of the outsourced HFCS, from design into manufacture, from the CAeS perspective
  

Requirements

Skills and Experience Required

• Experienced in the design and development of practical hydrogen fuel cell systems (comprising fuel cell stack(s) and balance of plant), ideally for aerospace/transport/defence applications
• Able to monitor, review, scrutinize and challenge the supplier’s design, development and testing of the outsourced HFCS
• Able to lead and manage the engineering interaction between the supplier’s HFCS design team and CAeS Engineering
• Able to form, lead and develop the CAeS HFCS Integration team
• Able to act as the CAeS lead for HFCS, to advise and instruct colleagues on HFCS principles, design and operation
• Able to define and control the physical interfaces between supplier’s HFCS and the CAeS project aircraft installation and systems
• Familiar with industrial engineering and New Product Introduction (NPI) processes (ie to take an idea from prototype to product) for complex engineering products

Essential Criteria

• Substantial experience (5+ years) of the design and development of practical hydrogen fuel cell systems (comprising fuel cell stack(s) and balance of plant)
• Experience of leading a small team in an engineering design and development environment
• Demonstrable understanding of the definition and control of physical interfaces between engineering systems
• Demonstrable understanding of the principles and practices of industrial engineering and NPI

• A good degree (preferably a higher degree) in a relevant branch of engineering or science
• Chartered Engineer (or sufficiently qualified, trained and experienced to become so)

Desirable Criteria

• Specialist experience in the design, optimization, integration and packaging of balance of plant for hydrogen fuel cell systems
• Specialist knowledge of hydrogen fuel cell systems for aerospace applications
• Demonstrable understanding of the manufacturing of HFCS components and balance of plant
• Engineering familiarity with aircraft systems and propulsion
• Experience of working in project teams and matrix organizations

Job Rewards and Benefits