Job Description
Job title:
Research Officer
Department/School:
Laboratory for Integrated Metrology Applications,
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Grade:
7
Location:
Claverton Down Campus, Department of
Mechanical Engineering – Laboratory for
Integrated Metrology Applications (LIMA)
Job purpose
This post relates to the industrial research project entitled “COPING WITH POOR THERMAL
ENVIRONMENTS AND GRAVITY IN MULTI-COMPONENT ASSEMBLIES” that is an
element of the large European Metrology Research Project (EMRP) LUMINAR led by the
National Physical Laboratory.
Excellent career progression and networking opportunities are available as a result of working
in this collaborative research project, the lead partner of which is the world class National
Physical Laboratory (NPL). This project aims to solve the current grand challenges of largescale industrial metrology, most notably compensating for errors arising from thermal
variation. This is currently a major obstacle to further advances in the aerospace industry a
fact reflected in the close involvement of Airbus in this project.
The Research Officer (RO) will work under the supervision of Professor P. G. Maropoulos,
who is the Principal Investigator, for the execution and competition of this new EMRP funded
industrial research project in association with NPL. The RO will be a member of the
Laboratory for Integrated Metrology Applications (LIMA) and will be expected to liaise with
NPL staff from the Dimensional Metrology and Thermal Metrology departments. The RO will
also be expected to work as part of the team within LIMA and in this process will receive
support and interface with existing staff including Mr Bing-Ru Yang, Dr Zheng Wang and Dr
Jody Muelaner.
The postholder will carry out work related to Large Scale Dimensional Metrology, Thermal
Metrology, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and aero-structure assembly. It is anticipated that
contact or non-contact temperature sensors will be used to monitor the surface temperature of
an aero-structure and this will then be used to update FEA model boundary conditions in order
to compensate for thermal expansion and gravity. The effectiveness of this approach will be
verified through application to a wing-scale structure provided by Airbus.
The location of this post will be LIMA at the University of Bath but the role requires flexibility in
terms of short-term deployments and frequent visits to NPL in Teddington, the Manufacturing
Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry and other sites as required to support particular phases
of the project.
If required by the successful candidate, he/she will be able to register for a part-time MSc
degree by research, but this is not a requirement for the post.
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Reports to:
Principal Investigator (PI): Professor P. G. Maropoulos
Staff management responsibility
None
Career and Professional Development Activities
From time to time you may be asked to assist in the facilitation of CPD activities. This will form
part of your substantive role and you will not receive additional payment for these activities.
Main duties and responsibilities
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The main technical responsibilities will include the following:
 Understand best practice in Dimensional Metrology and in particular Large Volume
Metrology.
 Understand the state of the art for thermal compensation of structures.
 Understand the state of the art in contact and non-contact thermal measurement.
 Apply thermal measurement and model based predictions to the compensation of
thermal expansion in large aerospace structures. Models are likely to involve FEA,
boundary elements or similar.
 Participate in a large scale demonstrator incorporating techniques developed by
NPL and other world class research organisations to make compensated
measurements of a wing-scale aerospace structure.
Carry out the day to day project management of the project, setting tasks, organising
meetings, managing time and delivering to pre-defined milestones.
Contribute to the timely production of research reports and publications at a professional
standard.
Participation in group meetings and prepare and deliver presentations to the research
team and the industrial collaborators.
Independently build a collaborative relationship with the NPL and travel to NPL for
appropriate periods to ensure sufficient support is given to project activities.
Assist with additional duties, as specified by the Principal Investigator, such as assisting
with undergraduate or MSc student projects.
Stay abreast with the current state of the art within related fields such as large volume
metrology, thermal metrology and finite element analysis.
Special conditions
Compliance with all relevant Codes of Practice and regulations for the University and relevant
discipline.
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Person Specification
Criteria
Essential
Desirable
Experience/Knowledge
Relevant theoretical knowledge and/or appropriate work
experience in an area related to the project
A basic understanding of Finite Element Modelling
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Finite Element Modelling practical Experience
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CAD/CAM practical Experience and/or theoretical
Knowledge
Metrology practical Experience and/or theoretical
Knowledge
Ability and willingness to learn and receive training in the
scientific areas in which there may be initial gaps in
knowledge or experience
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Demonstrates depth and breadth of academic knowledge
and/or practical experience that is relevant to the
research programme
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Demonstrates awareness of latest developments in the
field of research
Skills
Ability to organise and prioritise own workload
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Ability to write research reports and to effectively
disseminate outcomes
Excellent verbal, interpersonal and written communication
skills
Competent IT skills
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Attributes
Innovation and developing creative solutions
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Self-confidence when communicating with a wide range
of stakeholders
Self-starter
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An effective team worker
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Qualifications
A first degree (BEng/BSc/MEng) in Engineering or
Science relevant to the research activity and appropriate
industrial experience
Postgraduate MSc/PhD level qualification
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