Principal Engineer
Laser Additive Manufacturing
Location: Sheffield, UK
Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: Hybrid (Sheffield-based, in line with business requirements)
Hours: Full-time, 36 hours per week
Job Profile: Principal Engineer
Salary: £44,500 - £80,500 per annum
Reference: JR100890
Closing Date: 21 August 2026
Security Requirements: To be confirmed if applicable
About the Role
We are seeking a Principal Engineer to join our Laser Additive Manufacturing (LAM) team, supporting the development and industrial application of advanced laser-based manufacturing technologies.
Working at the forefront of innovation, you will contribute to the development and optimisation of technologies including:
- Laser Directed Energy Deposition (L-DED) using powder and wire feed systems
- Extreme High-Speed Laser Application (EHLA)
- Hot wire laser cladding
These technologies are applied across a range of sectors, including aerospace, energy and defence, supporting the repair, surface enhancement and manufacture of high-value components.
As part of a multidisciplinary team, you will play a key role in delivering innovative manufacturing solutions for customers, applying engineering expertise to improve process performance, material integrity and component quality while solving complex technical challenges.
What You'll Be Doing
In this role, you will:
- Support the development, optimisation and industrial deployment of laser additive manufacturing processes
- Lead technical work packages and, where appropriate, deliver complete projects with support from colleagues
- Design and execute experimental programmes to evaluate and improve manufacturing processes
- Analyse and interpret technical data, presenting findings to customers and project stakeholders
- Collaborate with engineers, scientists and project teams across multiple disciplines
- Translate customer requirements into practical engineering solutions
- Contribute to the successful delivery of customer-facing projects on time and to a high technical standard
- Manage your own workload and priorities within a dynamic project environment
About You
We are looking for an experienced engineer with strong technical expertise, excellent communication skills and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
For this senior-level position, we are particularly interested in candidates with experience in two or more of the following areas:
- Additive manufacturing, particularly laser-based processes such as L-DED or laser cladding
- Project management and technical project delivery
- Materials science and materials processing
- Metallurgy, welding and additive manufacturing principles
- CAD/CAM and digital engineering tools (experience with Siemens NX would be advantageous)
- Process development, parameter optimisation and quality control
- Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM)
- Collaborative, multidisciplinary project delivery
- Technical problem-solving and continuous improvement
For further details, please follow the Job Description link below:
https://www.twi-global.com/pdfs/careers/Job-Description-Senior-Engineer-or-Principle-Engineer.pdf
Travel: This position may require travel in the UK and abroad to support customer, project and collaboration activities.
About us:
TWI Ltd is a world expert in engineering, materials and joining technologies with significant property assets. We provide industry with advice and know-how in design, fabrication, failure analysis and prevention.
We offer opportunities to collaborate with inspiring and expert teams and a supportive environment in which you are actively encouraged to share your ideas and continually develop your own skills and knowledge.
If you are looking to join an organisation that is fuelled by innovation, teamwork, and openness, this role could be for you.
Diversity statement:
TWI Ltd is committed to treating all employees fairly and to being an inclusive employer. Our aim is to create a work environment where our employees can reach their full potential. We put Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the heart of our people practices to attract, develop and retain the best talent.
Inclusion:
We recognise that it’s the differences of our people that gives us our competitive edge and enables us to maintain our world leading reputation. This is why we are committed to ensuring there is diversity across every level of our organisation; representative of the Members and societies we serve. We have made Inclusion our number one corporate value to demonstrate our commitment to ensure it is at the core of everything we do at TWI.
Disability Confident Scheme:
We are pleased to confirm that we have achieved the first stage accreditation, which means we are a ‘Disability Confident Employer’. This is a government-supported scheme that supports organisations like TWI to make the most of the talents that people with disability can bring to our workplace. The scheme helps us recruit and retain great people; draw from the widest possible pool of talent; secure high-quality employees who are skilled, loyal and hardworking; and improve employee morale and commitment by demonstrating that we treat all of our people fairly.
If you require any additional support during your application, interview or any other aspect of our recruitment process please reach out to [email protected]
Why work for TWI?
We offer a competitive salary, share-in-success bonus scheme, generous pension scheme (both employee contribution (flexible amount) and TWI contribution (up to 10% of salary), holiday (20 days + 5 Corporate days + 8 bank holiday’s), private health and dental cover, career development and training, onsite employee restaurant, onsite gym, day nursery available for companies on Granta Park (Cambridge) site (subject to availability), onsite parking and more.
We know that balancing work and personal life can at times be challenging. This is why we continue to review and implement family friendly policies including hybrid working, flexible working, enhanced maternity pay and paid parental leave.
Working hours:
36 hours per week (full time), 8.30am -16.30pm Monday to Thursday (finishing at 16.15pm on Friday). Part-time and hybrid working available in some roles.
Artificial Intelligence:
At TWI, we want you to know that your application is in good hands. We do not use AI tools or automated systems to review or sift through applications. Instead, every application is personally reviewed by the hiring manager. We believe in being open and transparent with our candidates, and we’re committed to giving your application the attention it deserves.
As one of the world’s leading independent research and technology organisations, we are committed to attracting, motivating and retaining the best talent from around the world. Our goal is to develop the next generation of experts to address future industry challenges.
We are committed to creating a culture that recognises and respects the differences between people while valuing the contribution everyone makes to TWI.
The diversity of our staff and students makes a positive and important contribution to our continuing success.
TWI offers a comprehensive training programme, incorporating both in-house and external courses to support staff development.
Our six values provide a point of reference for the way we expect our people to operate and behave.
- Inclusion: Valuing the contribution from every individual, creating value for our customers
- Teamwork: Building effective working relationships, we accomplish more together
- Adaptability: Engaging positively with change to meet the needs of the business
- Taking Responsibility: Achieving our objectives and personal development
- Innovation & Expertise: Championing new ideas and sharing knowledge to solve industry problems
- Customer Focus: Building trusting relationships with our customers
Skills Required
- Experience in additive manufacturing, particularly laser-based processes such as L-DED or laser cladding
- Experience in project management and technical project delivery, including leading technical work packages
- Materials science and materials processing experience
- Knowledge of metallurgy, welding and additive manufacturing principles
- CAD/CAM and digital engineering tools experience
- Experience with Siemens NX (advantageous)
- Process development, parameter optimisation and quality control experience
- Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) experience
- Collaborative multidisciplinary project delivery experience
- Strong technical problem-solving skills and continuous improvement focus
- Excellent communication skills and ability to present findings to customers and stakeholders
- Willingness to travel in the UK and abroad to support customer and project activities
What We Do
TWI is a global leader in technology engineering providing research and consultancy to its Members. Respected for its expertise, professionalism, impartiality and confidentiality, TWI works with the most influential companies worldwide across all industry sectors. A Member company benefits from TWI's specialist knowledge in structural integrity and corrosion management, materials testing, NDT, failure investigation, welding and joining technologies, materials processing and training.
