ABOUT LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY
Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Product Development Engineer
(KTP ASSOCIATE)
JOB REF: REQ14115
March 2014
As part of the University’s ongoing commitment to redeployment, please note that
this vacancy may be withdrawn at any stage of the recruitment process if a suitable
redeployee is identified.
KTP (Knowledge Transfer Partnership) is a collaboration between a university and
company, jointly funded by the Company and the Technology Strategy Board.
This KTP is between Loughborough University and Specialist Lubricants Ltd. KTP aims to
help businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use
of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within the UK Knowledge Base.
The KTP Associate will be based at the Company premises in Livingston, Scotland
1. Introduction to the Company
Founded in 1999, Specialist Lubricants Ltd is active in the lubricants marketplace
worldwide. The company were the first to introduce dry lubrication as a replacement for
water based conveyor lubricants used worldwide. They are now the market leader in
dry lubrication of filling line conveyors and is the preferred supplier to Tetra Pak.
Specialist lubricants supply a wide range of food and no-food grade oils and greases to
a variety of industries, and the company’s product RM2000T™ is the market leader
with over 90% of the product being exported outside of the UK. The Company is based
in Livingston (Scotland), has six full time employees and a seven figure turnover.
2. Overview of the Department
The Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering is one of the
largest schools of its kind in the UK. It has an international reputation for being at the
forefront of technological innovation and for maintaining extensive links with industry,
generating around £5million in external research contracts each year. In addition to
holding two prestigious Queen's Anniversary Prize, it hosts two of the Engineering and
Physical Sciences Research Council’s prestigious Innovative Manufacturing Research
Centres. Given the multidisciplinary nature of its research portfolio, the School works
closely with other University departments and many of its research groups reflect this
approach.
For the successful delivery of this project, the working team includes internationally
leading academics in Advance Manufacture using Sonication, Tribology, Dynamics,
Internal Combustion Engines and Optics. The laboratory facilities, supported by stateof-the-art characterisation and testing resources, aim to push forward the development
vDec 2012
and application of sonication-aided manufacturing technologies into main stream
industrial applications.
3. Project Outline
The overall aim of the project is to develop a process to allow the maximum dispersion
of nanoparticles within specialised lubricants, through minimal mechanical manipulation
and nil chemicals, to improve effectiveness and performance.
The successful candidate will be employed as a KTP Associate by Loughborough
University and will be based at Specialist Lubricants Ltd. The work will also involve
travel between the company and Loughborough University. The successful applicant
will also need to travel to management training/courses and to interact with Company
clientele.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Grade: Other
Job Purpose:
The KTP Associate will:
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Conduct a literature review of nano-particles, ultrasonic treatments and a market
analysis of the lubrication industry
Design and procure equipment and nano-particles and develop a small scale rig
Conduct sonication feasibility studies
Conduct rheological and tribology tests to quantify impact in properties and
performance
Undertake problem formulation, model development, verification and evaluation of
the process
Scale up of the equipment for use on the existing equipment at Specialist
Lubricants
Study potential routes for the company to move from batch to continuous production
Research potential methods for performing quality control test on an online
production process
Liaison with personnel at Specialist Lubricants to market and launch the new
product
Duties & Responsibilities:
1. Carry out the KTP project tasks and deliver the outcomes as outlined in the project
plan.
2. Manage the project and disseminate the findings to the project team through weekly
reports, one-to-one meetings, presentations and technical reports.
3. Undertake KTP management training, as well as other courses as deemed
necessary.
vDec 2012
4. Write R&D reports, and present these at the Local Management Committee (LMC)
meetings, as well as at national conferences and symposia with other members of
the project team.
5. Prepare research papers for publication in highly acclaimed learned journals, in line
with the expected scholarly activities of the University Research Staff, but in
accordance to the commercial sensitivity of collaborating companies.
6. Travel to Company clientele and to various other locations within the UK, and
possibly overseas, as required.
7. To undertake such other duties as may be reasonably requested and that are
commensurate with the nature and grade of the post.
vDec 2012
Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Job Title:
Product Development Engineer (KTP Associate)
Job Grade: Other
Essential
Qualifications A good degree in
Engineering or Physics (or
a closely allied discipline)
Experience
Experience of any of the
following: electromechanics, acoustics,
ultrasonics, tribology,
materials characterisation,
process engineering
Skills and
Abilities
Good written
communication skills, ability
to produce professional
standard reports
Good personal and
presentational skills
Good research skills and
ability to handle data
Good time management
skills
Good computer skills
including Word processing,
spreadsheets, databases
and presentation software
Capable of working under
minimum supervision
Capable of planning short
and mid-term research
activities within the
framework of the project
Capable of managing
day-to-day activities
vDec 2012
Desirable
A Masters degree (or
above) in Engineering or
Physics (or a closely
allied discipline)
Experience of team and
project working in a
multi-disciplinary
environment
Experience in
designing and testing
using small-scale
experimental rigs in a
laboratory setting
Experience of signal
acquisition and signal
processing tests
Ability to synthesize
industrial needs into
research activities
Some notions in the
use of oscilloscopes,
amplifiers,
transducers, etc, and
LabView (or similar)
programming
Stage to be
assessed
1
All to be
assessed at
stages 1
and 3
All to be
assessed at
stages 1
and 3
Other
To observe the University
Equal Opportunities policies
at all times.
3
Flexibility in working
conditions and hours.
3
Licensed to drive in the
UK
1,3
Stages in Assessment: 1, Application Form, 2, Selection Test, 3, Interview.
Conditions of Service
This is a full-time, fixed-term appointment for a period of 15 Months. The salary for the
post will be within the range £20,000 to £25,000 per annum. Commencing salary will be
determined by previous experience. The successful candidate will be employed by
Loughborough University, but will be based at Specialist Lubricants Ltd, Livingston.
The position is subject to the normal University terms and conditions of employment for
Academic and Related staff, details of which can be found at:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/personnel/documents/acadrelatedcos.pdf
Informal Enquiries
Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Carmen Torres-Sanchez, tel:
+44 (0)1509 227518. C.torres@lboro.ac.uk
Applications
The closing date for receipt of applications is 14th April. Interviews will be held at the
offices of Specialist Lubricants Ltd and are scheduled for 29th/30th April. Second
Interviews will be held at Loughborough University w/c 5th May.
vDec 2012
Product Development Engineer
(KTP Associate) Fixed-Term for 15 months.
£20,000 to £25,000 per annum
Plus: Up to £4,000 for individual training & development
www.rm2000t.com
Knowledge
Transfer
Partnerships
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships enable
recently qualified graduates (known as
KTP Associates) to work in companies
managing challenging projects central to
the development needs of participating
companies.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships can
provide you with:
Valuable work experience in a
commercial environment with
improved career prospects
Competitive salary
An opportunity to lead and manage
a R&D project with defined goals
The possibility for future
employment
with the company partner at the
end of the project
A generous personal professional
development and training budget
vDec 2012
An enthusiastic, innovative and self-motivated person is
required for a Knowledge Transfer Partnership project
between Loughborough University and Specialist Lubricants
Ltd. The project involves the development of a process to
allow the maximum dispersion of nanoparticles within
specialised lubricants, through minimal mechanical
manipulation and nil chemicals, to improve effectiveness and
performance. A generous training budget is available to
enhance the career profile of the successful candidate.
The successful candidate will be employed by the University,
but based at Specialist Lubricants Ltd, Livingston
(Scotland).
You should have a degree in either Engineering or Physics.
Some experience of electro-mechanics, acoustics,
ultrasonics, tribology, materials characterisation and process
engineering is desirable.
You will gain experience of a commercial research and
development environment and develop hands on project
management experience.
Informal enquiries:
Carmen Torres-Sanchez, by email at: c.torres@lboro.ac.uk
or by telephone on: +44 (0)1509 227518
Please quote ref no: REQ 14115
Closing date: 14th April
Interviews will be held: 29th/30th April
This Partnership has received financial support from the
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships programme (KTP). KTP
aims to help businesses to improve their competitiveness
and productivity through the better use of knowledge,
technology and skills that reside within the UK Knowledge
Base. KTP is funded by the Technology Strategy Board
along with the other government funding organisations.