Adhesive & Bonded Structures Engineer

About the Company

TECOSIM is a specialist engineering Company and we are looking for an experienced Adhesive & Bonded Structures Engineer to support the development, validation, industrialisation and continuous improvement of adhesive-bonded solutions for advanced automotive structures.

About the Role

This role will focus on composite and multi-material vehicle architectures, ensuring robust adhesive joint performance across structural, durability, environmental, crash, thermal and manufacturing requirements. The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting new technology introduction, supplier collaboration and vehicle programme delivery from concept through to production.

Responsibilities

• Define adhesive material requirements for structural and non-structural automotive applications.
• Experience in liquid and hemming sealing.
• Select adhesive technologies based on mechanical, thermal, durability, processing and manufacturing requirements.
• Develop bonding strategies for CFRP, GFRP, aluminium and multi-material assemblies.
• Establish adhesive design allowable, engineering standards, material specifications and test matrices.
• Design and assess bonded joints for static, fatigue, impact and crash loading.
• Apply Building Block Approach methodology for adhesive qualification and validation.
• Support CAE teams with material properties, joint design principles and validation requirements.
• Generate adhesive test plans from coupon level through to full vehicle validation.
• Define bonding solutions compatible with fire, thermal runaway and environmental requirements.
• Evaluate material compatibility between adhesives and substrates.
• Lead root-cause investigations related to bond failures, durability concerns and manufacturing defects.
• Support the development of lightweight composite structures and future material technologies.

Manufacturing & Industrialisation

• Define manufacturing processes for bonded composite assemblies.
• Support RTM, prepreg, compression moulding and assembly operations.
• Establish requirements for surface preparation, bond-gap control, curing processes, process controls and NDT inspection.
• Investigate manufacturing defects and implement corrective actions.
• Assess supplier capability and qualification readiness.
• Review material data packages and validation reports.
• Support technical strategy for future adhesive and composite technologies.
• Contribute to international supplier collaborations and technology scouting activities.

Testing & Validation

You will interpret and apply results from tensile, compression, shear, fracture toughness, environmental ageing, fatigue, thermal characterisation and flammability testing. You will also help establish material databases and design values for engineering teams.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Automotive Engineering or an equivalent discipline.
• Significant experience in automotive structural bonding applications.
• Strong understanding of adhesion mechanisms, fracture mechanics, bonded joint design, composite materials and polymer chemistry.
• Experience with laboratory testing and qualification programmes.
• Experience working with Tier 1 suppliers and material suppliers.
• Knowledge of adhesive technologies including epoxy, polyurethane, acrylic and methacrylate systems.
• Understanding of structural and semi-structural bonding, surface preparation, joint durability and environmental ageing.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, CAE, quality and supplier teams.

Required Skills

• European Adhesive Engineer, European Adhesive Specialist or equivalent adhesive bonding qualification.
• Experience with CFRP RTM, prepreg manufacturing and compression moulding processes.
• Experience supporting advanced lightweight composite structures or future vehicle technologies.

Preferred Skills

• Adhesive specifications, standards and bonded joint design guidelines.
• Material qualification reports and validation evidence.
• Supplier technical assessments and material data package reviews.
• Failure investigation reports and corrective action recommendations.
• Manufacturing process specifications and technology roadmap inputs.

Duration: 6 months. Based in Woking

This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to advanced vehicle programmes and future lightweight material technologies in a highly technical, hands-on engineering environment.