Blast Effects FEA Engineers

About the job

AWE currently have excellent opportunities for Blast Effects FEA Engineers

These roles sit within the Engineering Analysis Team. The team supports AWE's mission by providing a range of computational mechanics services to the business, such as finite element analysis (FEA), computational fluid dynamics (CFD), thermal and blast analysis. The team work on weapons-related projects which underpin continuous-at-sea-deterrence and contribute to the security of the nation.

Role: Blast Effects FEA Engineers

Location: Reading Area

Closing date: 12th December 2023

Salary: £35,720 - £65,000 (depending on your suitability and level of experience)

As part of our People Promise, AWE (one of the best 25 big companies to work for in the UK) has a range of benefits to suit you. These include:

• Time to recharge your batteries with 270 hours of annual leave (plus every other Friday off work)
• Consideration for flexible working arrangements so that your work may fit in with your lifestyle. Just let us know on your application if you wish to work part time
• Opportunities for Professional Career Development that include funding for the annual membership of a relevant professional body, access to mentors and training
• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services
• A generous defined contribution Group Personal Pension (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your own contribution)
• Life Assurance
• Discounts - access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending
• Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring for your family
• A host of voluntary & core benefits to suit your health and well-being - more information available on our careers site
• Relocation package available (terms and conditions apply)
• Potential opportunities to travel with work for conferences and collaboration

The analysis projects you will work on are interesting and varied and may include:

• Simulation of large-scale and conventional blast and shock effects
• Assessment of structural response/damage
• Simulation of high-velocity impact
• Hydrocode modelling
• Explicit dynamic finite element analysis
• Multi physics coupling inc. FSI

In addition to day-to-day analysis tasks, other responsibilities may include:

• Communicating analysis results through production of clear, concise reports & presentations
• Applying model V&V techniques whilst adhering to quality assurance procedures
• Representing the wider business at national and international conferences

We would like to hear from candidates with a degree level background in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or related discipline.

Experience in one or more of the following would be beneficial:

• Commercial/open source hydrocodes, e.g., Autodyn, ViperBlast, BlastFoam
• Commercial FEA codes, particularly ANSYS, ABAQUS and LS-DYNA
• Commercial pre-processors such as Altair HyperMesh and ANSYS Workbench
• Explosive detonation, blast propagation and resulting structural response
• Engineering calculations and empirical and semi-empirical analysis techniques (e.g., UFC 3-340-01, UFC 3-340-02)
• Material characterisation and calibration of material models and equations of state
• Testing techniques used to obtain mechanical material property data
• Experimentation for the acquisition of model validation data
• PLM and CAD systems - Siemens Teamcenter and NX are particularly desirable
• Linux based HPC systems and batch submission systems
• Use of Python scripting to automate models and analyse data

Candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role and be willing and able to interact with peers internationally including presenting at specialist conferences.

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