Head of Mechanical Design

Location: Bicester moving to Silverstone mid July 2022

KW Special Projects Ltd requires a Head of Mechanical Design to join the team in this ambitious and growing high performance engineering business. We are looking for someone with a “can do” attitude and strong lateral thinking skills, who is excited by the engineering process and can apply their skills to a variety of diverse projects using their initiative and knowledge. 

About KWSP

KW Special Projects is a high-performance design and engineering solution provider based in Bicester at the heart of the Silverstone Technology Cluster. KWSP uses the speed and agility of the motorsport industry upon which it was founded to provide cutting-edge, on-demand design and engineering services.

By transferring knowledge and technology from one sector to another they develop novel solutions to their clients’ challenges which have led to them working on projects from Additively Manufactured Batteries through to equipment for Professional Sports Teams.

However, they are still most well known for their expertise within the Automotive & Motorsport world and to this day continue to leverage their motorsport DNA to deliver complete engineering solutions for high-performance and niche vehicles.

Our capabilities include 

• High Performance Engineering 
• Digital Fabrication
• Additive Manufacturing
• Automation
• Lightweight structures and composites
• Industrial Inkjet
• High Performance Engineering project management
• Special purpose machine design and manufacture

About the role

Reporting to the Chief Technical Officer you will work as part of an integrated engineering team.

Our programmes require a diverse range of mechanical engineering skills; therefore, we are interested to hear from applicants who have a fundamental understanding and can demonstrate experience in the following key vehicle areas:

• Suspension concept, design, kinematics & structural analysis 
• Powertrain systems integration and development – ICE & Hybrid powertrain systems

All components and systems development are to be managed in collaboration with opposing vehicle areas, systems integration in relation to electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems will be required. 

Due to the level of autonomy, we require from the Head of Mechanical Design a minimum of 10 years’ experience on vehicle design as a prerequisite.

You will be communicating with clients and suppliers at all levels. As a result, you will also need to demonstrate effective communication skills. 

The role would appeal to someone who works best when they need to think creatively about a design solution, adaptable to client requirements and is able to work independently whilst communicating with the team. 

Specifically, all positions will involve the following:

Engineering Requirements

• Leadership and unification of design methodology
• Collaboration with Aero/Studio/CAE to develop and achieve vehicle targets
• Developing design specifications to meet budget requirements in terms of time and cost
• Functional engineering to deliver vehicle attribute targets
• Identify, direct, and implement risk analysis (DFMEA) across vehicle platform
• Extensive use of Catia for concept and component detailing
• Lead DFM discussions with supplier network
• Responsible for all technical engineering drawing sign-off 
• Definition of vehicle function static and dynamic testing requirements
• Lead execution of component & system testing
• Leadership of vehicle build process and servicing considerations

Managing Customer Relationships 

Communicating with senior management and customers effectively at all levels in relation to:

• Preparing Specifications
• Design Reviews
• Project Reviews
• Project Delivery

Programme Co-ordination/Management

• Control of programme engineering budget
• Management of the programme engineering team
• Engineering resource management to ensure programme delivery
• Identify business improvement opportunities

Opportunities for Career Development

KWSP is a small but growing business.  For someone with the right “can do” attitude, technical skill and initiative there may be future opportunities within the business

Person Specification: Core competencies and experience.

Applicants will preferably have a degree in mechanical engineering or a related discipline (or equivalent experience). We will however consider applicants with an HND in mechanical engineering or a related discipline. We will also consider individuals with equivalent experience.

All applicants must demonstrate the following:

• Proven and skilled use of CATIA V5
• Evidence of client-facing experience
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to prepare specifications and deliver these within budget
• Confident use of MS-Office applications
• Experience in procedures and ability to implement as business requirement develops
• Ability to interrogate and analyse FEA, CFD and simulation methodologies
• Proven skills in detailed analysis from first principles 
• Creation and dissemination of good working practises and processes 

The successful applicant will be:

• Initiative-taking
• An experienced team leader
• An analytical person/have strong lateral thinking skills
• Able to demonstrate a commitment to quality and meeting customer requirements
• Tenacious in meeting programme deadlines 
• Practical as well as creative and prepared to be hands-on
• Able to demonstrate precision and diligence including generating reports
• Able to work effectively under time pressure
• Able to work with health and safety in mind in terms of design and working