Our vision is to create a safe and sustainable world.

Ricardo plc is a global strategic, environmental, and engineering consulting company. With over 100 years of engineering excellence and employing close to 3,000 employees in more than 20 countries, we provide exceptional levels of expertise in delivering leading-edge and innovative cross-sector sustainable products and solutions. Every day, we enable our customers to solve the most complex and dynamic challenges to help achieve a safe and sustainable world.

The Role

Due to high workload from a number of exciting projects, we are looking to recruit a Mechanical Technician to work at our Shoreham office.

Working as part of the Installation Team, as a Mechanical Technician you’ll be performing a wide variety of mechanical tasks in support of new and existing test and development programmes, working from written guidance, engineering drawings and schematics, or verbal instructions.

The role will report to the Installation Manager and will require working in close cooperation with internal customers and other team members. Successful candidates to the role will be expected to be able to work independently with minimal supervision.

Key Responsibilities 

• Mounting of test engines / motors / fuel cells and or dynamometers.
• Manufacture test rigs and installation of various types of measurement probes, transducers and flowmeters.
• Fabrication, including the manufacture of exhaust and inlet manifold systems and interconnecting ductwork in various materials. Various jigging, bending, sheet metal joining techniques.
• Installation of fluid and gas pipework systems (oil and water, potentially liquid and gaseous fuels dependent on suitable skills, training and experience). This work can include both low- and high-pressure systems, considering the test and safety requirements for temperature, pressure and system layout.
• To strip down and report on the condition of a wide range of pumps, valves, heat exchangers and other testbed equipment. To advise on spare parts and to rebuild to a high standard.
• Installation of driveline components to exacting and safe standards.
• Activities related to hybrid and electric vehicles, such as work on motors, transmissions and battery packs, may also be required of applicants with suitable skills, training and experience.

Skills and Behaviours

• Demonstrable, practical experience in the assembly / disassembly of mechanical components & assemblies.
• Demonstrable, practical experience in the use of manual machining techniques including setting & operating lathes, drilling machines, metal saws linishing & grinding machines.
• Demonstrable, practical experience in the use of sheet metal fabrication equipment including guillotine, roller, folding & punching equipment.
• Demonstrable, practical experience in the use of electric & gas welding equipment including TIG, MIG Oxy Fuel & Plasma cutting equipment.
• The ability to read & interpret engineering drawings & schematics & use common hand measuring equipment such as micrometers, vernier callipers, clocks, gauges & laser alignment equipment essential.
• A detailed and methodical approach, with the flexibility to adapt to changing situations and requirements.
• Practically orientated and capable of contributing to the technical approach used to achieve the customer objectives. Having a disciplined approach to work with pride in their achievements.
• Able to work individually and as part of a team in a challenging environment, to meet tight deadlines and the needs of demanding customers.
• Ricardo value flexibility in their workforce – a willingness to work outside normal working hours when required (long or shifted days / weekend working) would be desirable.
• Similarly, candidates with experience in other fields, such as engine build, vehicle maintenance or instrumentation would be at an advantage.
• PC Skills including Word and Excel are desirable.

This is a contract opportunity to support the team during a time of high workload and is initially for a three month period.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion statement
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person's potential, and we'll help you reach yours. We have an ambitious diversity, equality, and inclusion approach as explained here. We value diversity; recognising that a more diverse workforce creates a richer and more varied working environment. Diversity also drives innovation, by allowing us to offer our clients the best consultancy service that we can. As part of our commitment to engage positively and pro-actively with all our employees to ensure an inclusive culture, we are a recognised as a 'disability confident' employer.

Next steps

Once you have submitted your application a member of our Recruitment Team will be in touch. Please be aware that the timing can vary dependent on the volume of applications that we receive for each role and in some cases, we may start to review applications prior to the closing date.

Ricardo is a Disability confident employer please advise the recruitment team via recruit@ricardo.com if you require any adjustments to support you throughout the recruitment process.