TYPE APPROVAL ENGINEERS / CONTRACTORS

Location: UK and Overseas
Reporting to: Depending on location
Closing date: Open*

General Description

The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) is the United Kingdom Government Authority and a European Union (EU) Authority for the issue of international approvals for vehicle systems, components and complete vehicles.

We currently fhave vacancies or Engineers and Contractors to work in the UK (Bristol, Nuneaton) or potentially in one of our overseas offices, (China, India, Japan and Australia).

The technical aspects of type approval work break down into three main elements - component testing (i.e. devices that may not be vehicle specific like tyres, lamps, seat belts), vehicle system testing (e.g. brakes, exhaust emissions) and inspection of production specification vehicles.

The role of the type approval engineer is to liaise with the manufacturer to obtain the technical specification of the type to be approved, to review that information in order to select the tests that need to be carried out and the variants/versions of the type to be tested, to arrange for the tests to be conducted (if necessary appraising the facility for suitability beforehand), to carry out the tests, to finalise the information documents, and finally to compile a technical report and a draft approval certificate.

Each engineer is expected to become competent in a wide range of vehicle and component approval subjects. On the job training will be provided, as necessary, but a working knowledge of most aspects of vehicle technology is required.

Testing is carried out or witnessed at manufacturers' test facilities or other laboratories wherever the manufacturer requires, so significant travelling may be required including overseas, and a flexible approach to working hours is required.

Main duties:

to carry out or witness tests to the requirements of EC, ECE, NTA and other technical standards for all types of vehicle, at manufacturers' premises or other laboratories in the UK and overseas;
to carry out engineering assessments in lieu of tests as necessary;
to manage and complete approval documentation for each test or assessment and to enter necessary data onto computer job records including preparation of test reports and draft approval certificates;
to support worst case meetings and variant selection meetings with manufacturers and to enter necessary data onto the computer record;
to carry out facility appraisals;
to develop and maintain expert technical knowledge;
to assist technical support branch with expert knowledge;
to answer queries from manufacturers, agencies and others;
for all of the above, to follow laid down VCA procedures and quality requirements.

Essential Skills:

Qualification to degree level in automotive, mechanical, or electrical engineering (relevant industry experience may be considered if no formal qualification is held);
Ability to organise own work, and to organise and control projects;
Ability to adapt to changing priorities and workload;
Inter-personal skills to communicate effectively in a customer oriented environment;
Ability and willingness to travel extensively in the UK and overseas (valid UK driving licence a necessity) including staying overseas for periods of up to 2-3 weeks several times per year if required;
Flexibility in working patterns.

Desirable Skills:

Experience in automotive engineering;
Knowledge of vehicle type approval procedures and technical standards.

Further information:

Please contact:

For more information about this post...
Chris Border - Tel: +44 (0)117 9524116 email: derek.jones@vca.gov.uk

For further general information and a recruitment pack...
Vanessa Milton - Tel: +44 (0)117 952 4211 (vanessa.milton@vca.gov.uk)

VCA is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to eliminating discrimination from employment practices. Applications are welcome from all suitably qualified people; nationals of EC countries are also welcome to apply.

*Please note that this is an ongoing recruitment campaign.