Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.
Working within a small team of engineers primarily at the Thales Underwood Quarry site in Wells to supply Radar Cross Section (RCS) measurement services to the UK Ministry of Defence and industry partners. The team is responsible for conducting both indoor and outdoor RCS measurement tasks to enable characterisation of customer-supplied assets/platforms of varying physical size and expected signature level. The Mechanical Engineer will be looking to develop their expertise and understanding in the specification, design and build of target support structures and range facilities for radar signature measurements, as well as preparation\treatment of measurement targets and supporting structures to minimise RCS returns from targets and there artefacts. This is a hands on role learning alongside the Mechanical Engineering Lead.
The Mechanical Engineer covers the following activities:
Understanding of RCS measurement requirements and the specific requirements this impinges upon mechanical design.
Practical workshop and spray skills and ability to liaise with sub-contractors.
Support in the performance of measurement tasks.
Communication/reporting of outputs to customers.
Key Development Responsibilities
Assembly\modification of customer assets in line with their instructions.
Operation of mechanical workshop area.
Spraying of electrically conductive coatings and other specialist materials.
Design and manufacture of the target support and handling structures to meet individual measurement tasks requirements.
Preparation and definition of lifting plans to ensure the safe practice of moving customer assets and measurement support equipment.
Liaising with sub-contractors on design and manufacture of target supporting structures.
Design and build of the mechanical supporting and environmental protection structure for the radar antenna farm to meet individual measurement task requirements.
As part of the RSM team investigate/identify target/range anomalous returns.
Liaising with customers both directly and within meetings, to properly identify target measurement requirements aiding identification of optimal supporting structures and target treatments to meet there requirement.
Supporting Role
Support the RSM Engineer in the preparation of the Task Measurement Plan
Support the RSM Engineer in the processing of measurement data.
Support the RCS Trials Team Leader in the preparation of Bids.
Support the RCS Engineer in the preparation of the Task Measurement Plan.
Support the Radar Engineer in the operation of the radar.
Support the Service Delivery Manager in the safe running of the Underwood Quarry site.
General support activities.
Behaviours
Creative problem solver, with a hands-on mentality.
Team player – keen to contribute to making the project and every task a success.
Able to change easily and adapt to different conditions and circumstances as the current task requires.
Care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties.
Self-motivated
Keeping abreast of future signature measurement and disruptive technologies.
Willing to undertake additions roles and responsibilities to ensure the smooth running of a small satellite Thales facility.
Skills, Qualifications and Experience
Practical workshop skills and ability to liaise with sub-contractors in aid of the design and manufacture of target supporting structures.
Holder or able to achieve security clearance to Developed Vetting (DV) Status.
Holder or able to achieve Working at Height accreditation
Holder or able to achieve IPAF
Hold or be able to achieve Forklift accreditation
Hold or be able to achieve Overhead Crane and Slinging accreditation
Qualified to degree level (or qualified by experience) in Physics or Mechanical Engineering ideally with a specialisation in Electromagnetic theory.
Experienced in the use of 3D modelling packages, i.e. ACAD\ProE, for the preparation of drawings for the manufacture of aids for measurement tasks.
Technical competence in the planning and Execution of Technical Measurement Trials Activity and associated responsibilities.
Effective stakeholder management and communication skills.
Security Clearance Requirement:
Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to be a sole British National from birth and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats . It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance.
To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks
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At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.
We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.
If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. Join the Talent Community here.
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Skills Required
- Qualified to degree level in Physics or Mechanical Engineering
- Experience in the use of 3D modelling packages
- Practical workshop skills and ability to liaise with sub-contractors
- Holder or able to achieve security clearance to Developed Vetting (DV) Status
- Ability to achieve Working at Height accreditation
- Ability to achieve IPAF
- Ability to achieve Forklift accreditation
- Ability to achieve Overhead Crane and Slinging accreditation
Thales Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Thales and has not been reviewed or approved by Thales.
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Retirement Support — Retirement plans with employer contributions and matches, profit sharing, and share purchase opportunities are emphasized across multiple regions. These elements are positioned as competitive components of total rewards.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Generous PTO that increases with tenure, paid holidays, and paid military, maternity, and paternity leave are described. This breadth supports work–life balance across locations.
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Flexible Benefits — Hybrid work options, flexible schedules, and parental supports such as childcare benefits and leave for sick children are available in several markets. Flexibility is presented as a core part of the employee experience.
Thales Insights
What We Do
Thales is a global high technology leader investing in digital and “deep tech” innovations – connectivity, big data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum technology – to build a future we can all trust, which is vital to the development of our societies. The company provides solutions, services and products that help its customers – businesses, organisations and states – in the defence, aeronautics, space, transportation and digital identity and security markets to fulfil their critical missions, by placing humans at the heart of the decision-making process.
