Job Description

School/Department: School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing
Based at: Cranfield Campus, Cranfield, Bedfordshire
Hours of work: 37 hours per week, normally worked Monday to Friday. Flexible working will be considered.
Contract type: Fixed term contract
Fixed Term Period: 24 months
Salary: Research Assistant: Starting salary is normally in the range of \xc2\xa328,203 to \xc2\xa332,039 per annum or Research Fellow: Starting salary is normally \xc2\xa337,337 per annum
Apply by: 09/09/2023

Role Description

About the Role

The purpose of this post is to support and deliver to an industry led funded project. You will be responsible for undertaking high quality research associated with the Cranfield University, working in image acquisition and image analysis and/or image classification on detected defects by robotic X-Ray inspections of composite structures. The aim is to bring the technology to a higher TRL level (TRL6), increase the probability of detection of defects and speed up the existing inspection process. You will also be responsible for managing the research tasks, organising project meetings, writing project deliverables and coordinating research activities and will need excellent interpersonal skills.

About You

For Research Assistant you will hold a BEng and/or MSc in an aerospace / mechanical / electrical / computer engineering subject, whilst for Research Fellow you will be educated to doctoral level in an aerospace / mechanical / electrical / computer engineering subject. Knowledge of robotic - automated inspections of structures, as well as image acquisition and analysis and classification of data is essential for the post. Expertise in algorithm deployment for automated diagnostics and machine vision for aircraft structures would be an advantage. You will be confident in communicating with external partners professionally and skilled in project management and report writing.

About Us

As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield\'s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact .

The Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM) Centre is a joint effort by Industry and Academia to develop state of the art diagnostic and prognostic capabilities that change the way services are provided today. The IVHM Centre was launched by Cranfield University, Britain\'s premier postgraduate, research intensive university together with Boeing, Rolls Royce, BAE Systems, Meggitt and Thales in 2008. It is located at Cranfield University\'s Cranfield site. The Centre is now globally recognized, having defined the subject area and further developing new areas of expansion. The development of the Centre, along with other areas in the University, significantly contributed to the recent DARTeC (Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre) proposal success. Through DARTeC, the IVHM Centre is leading the MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) developments and activities with expertise and capabilities in UAV-Robotics Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) inspections, sensor monitoring, and advanced digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Twins (DT), tools that could be used to synchronize, monitor, and improve all processes related to Aircraft MRO.

For further information please visit:

Our Values and Commitments

Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more .

We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme.We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity . Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working .

Working Arrangements

Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners.

How to apply

For an informal discussion, please contact Prof Nico Avdelidis, Head of IVHM Centre on

Apply . Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details on E: . Please quote reference number 4614

Closing date for receipt of applications: 9 September 2023

Times Higher Education