Technical Specialist - Forging (315529)
 

Salary range: £41,526 - £51,034 per annum
FTE: 1.0
Term: Open-ended
Closing Date: 28 February 2021

The University of Strathclyde in Glasgow possesses a large internationally rated Engineering Faculty with a proud history of successful joint ventures with industrial and enterprise partners.  The Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), based at Inchinnan near Glasgow’s International Airport, has now been operational for ten years during which time Industrial, Academic and Government partners have worked together to establish a world leading research facility for the shaping of materials.  The centre works closely with major industrial companies including Rolls-Royce and Boeing, and since 2011 it has been a part of the UK High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult.  Since its launch the AFRC has achieved a rate of growth and industrial engagement which has surpassed expectations.  As well as consolidating its primary strength in forming and forging technology, the centre will become part of the National Manufacturing Institute, Scotland (NMIS) which will act as a focal point for high value manufacturing in Scotland.

The AFRC has some unique capabilities in the area of forging research, and is also in the process of establishing ‘Future Forge’, a high integrity hot forging research environment aimed at establishing and demonstrating a digital future for hot forging.  As such this physical capability will comprise open-die, closed-die, and isothermal forming capability as well as state of the art instrumentation and process control, consistent with Industry 4.0.  Its use is primarily targeted at the highest value forged component applications such as aerospace discs, pressure vessels for steam generating equipment, and subsea installations.  The investment is being made based on a strategic vision for a digital future for forging centred around improved predictive capability and process control.  The centre will work with its many industrial partners including Rolls-Royce, Boeing, Aubert & Duval, Timet, Bifrangi, DMG Mori, and Virtalis to ensure the delivery of the vision.  As part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult the AFRC will also drive for the creation of relevant industrial and supply chain development within the UK.

Reporting to the Forging & Incremental Technologies Team Lead, the AFRC is seeking to recruit a Technical Specialist for Forging, a unique role which will focus on developing technical and practical forging expertise for the centre. You will have overall responsibility for developing the centre’s practical aspects of forging operations within the AFRC, including the development of proactive approaches to providing support to the forging industry.  In addition, the Technical Specialist will work with the AFRC leadership team to provide expertise and input to all technical aspects of forging equipment specification and installation. You will play a key role in offering expert technical support to technical, research and knowledge exchange staff, and work very closely with AFRC and campus based colleagues who are developing the research agenda and vision for the future of forging.   

With extensive industrial experience of high value (open die, closed die and or isothermal) forging, and/or educated to PhD level in an appropriate discipline, with an excellent appreciation of the practicalities of forging established through other means, you will have an established track record in forging and a network of contacts to go alongside it. You will have in-depth knowledge and sufficient direct experience of a range of forging processes, manufacturing systems and manufacturing capability improvement. You will also have an active interest in the future of manufacturing technology and insight into associated systems.  You will have a belief in the transformational potential from digitalisation and modelling technology and a willingness to develop expertise in these areas.  You will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capability of presenting to and interacting with a range of stakeholders from industry and academia both nationally and internationally.  The successful candidate for this unique role in UK forging will expect to become nationally recognised as a specialist in the practicalities of forging technologies. You will have the ability to support, guide and develop forging Technicians, Manufacturing Engineers and Researchers, with a proven track record in staff development through formal apprenticeship or mentoring schemes.

For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Alastair Conway, Forging & Incremental Technologies Team Lead at a.p.conway@strath.ac.uk.

Click here for full details.


Faculty
Faculty of Engineering
Department/School
Design, Manufacture and Engineering Management
Staff Category
Knowledge Exchange
Type of Employment
Open-ended
Working Hours
Full-time
Vacancy Description
 
Salary range: £41,526 - £51,034 per annum
FTE: 1.0
Term: Open-ended
Closing Date: 28 February 2021

The University of Strathclyde in Glasgow possesses a large internationally rated Engineering Faculty with a proud history of successful joint ventures with industrial and enterprise partners.  The Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), based at Inchinnan near Glasgow’s International Airport, has now been operational for ten years during which time Industrial, Academic and Government partners have worked together to establish a world leading research facility for the shaping of materials.  The centre works closely with major industrial companies including Rolls-Royce and Boeing, and since 2011 it has been a part of the UK High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult.  Since its launch the AFRC has achieved a rate of growth and industrial engagement which has surpassed expectations.  As well as consolidating its primary strength in forming and forging technology, the centre will become part of the National Manufacturing Institute, Scotland (NMIS) which will act as a focal point for high value manufacturing in Scotland.

The AFRC has some unique capabilities in the area of forging research, and is also in the process of establishing ‘Future Forge’, a high integrity hot forging research environment aimed at establishing and demonstrating a digital future for hot forging.  As such this physical capability will comprise open-die, closed-die, and isothermal forming capability as well as state of the art instrumentation and process control, consistent with Industry 4.0.  Its use is primarily targeted at the highest value forged component applications such as aerospace discs, pressure vessels for steam generating equipment, and subsea installations.  The investment is being made based on a strategic vision for a digital future for forging centred around improved predictive capability and process control.  The centre will work with its many industrial partners including Rolls-Royce, Boeing, Aubert & Duval, Timet, Bifrangi, DMG Mori, and Virtalis to ensure the delivery of the vision.  As part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult the AFRC will also drive for the creation of relevant industrial and supply chain development within the UK.

Reporting to the Forging & Incremental Technologies Team Lead, the AFRC is seeking to recruit a Technical Specialist for Forging, a unique role which will focus on developing technical and practical forging expertise for the centre. You will have overall responsibility for developing the centre’s practical aspects of forging operations within the AFRC, including the development of proactive approaches to providing support to the forging industry.  In addition, the Technical Specialist will work with the AFRC leadership team to provide expertise and input to all technical aspects of forging equipment specification and installation. You will play a key role in offering expert technical support to technical, research and knowledge exchange staff, and work very closely with AFRC and campus based colleagues who are developing the research agenda and vision for the future of forging.   

With extensive industrial experience of high value (open die, closed die and or isothermal) forging, and/or educated to PhD level in an appropriate discipline, with an excellent appreciation of the practicalities of forging established through other means, you will have an established track record in forging and a network of contacts to go alongside it. You will have in-depth knowledge and sufficient direct experience of a range of forging processes, manufacturing systems and manufacturing capability improvement. You will also have an active interest in the future of manufacturing technology and insight into associated systems.  You will have a belief in the transformational potential from digitalisation and modelling technology and a willingness to develop expertise in these areas.  You will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capability of presenting to and interacting with a range of stakeholders from industry and academia both nationally and internationally.  The successful candidate for this unique role in UK forging will expect to become nationally recognised as a specialist in the practicalities of forging technologies. You will have the ability to support, guide and develop forging Technicians, Manufacturing Engineers and Researchers, with a proven track record in staff development through formal apprenticeship or mentoring schemes.

For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Alastair Conway, Forging & Incremental Technologies Team Lead at a.p.conway@strath.ac.uk.

Click here for full details.