Principal Suspension and Steering System Engineer

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Our vision is to create a safe and sustainable world.

Ricardo plc is a global strategic, environmental, and engineering consulting company, listed on the London Stock Exchange. Ricardo’s Policy, Strategy & Economics Practice supports governments and corporate clients all over the world with policy analysis, strategic advice and economic appraisal to address the most pressing challenges relating to climate change and the environment, energy and mobility. We deliver ground-breaking, state-of-the-art projects that are influential in changing hearts and minds and have tangible, positive impacts for individuals, communities, organisations, nations and the planet as a whole.

The role

The successful candidate will lead the technical delivery of suspension system development on Vehicle Engineering projects. The projects include a wide variety of different vehicle and suspension types with a range of power sources from conventional to alternative fuels. These vehicles cover a range of different applications for various defense and commercial applications where vehicles need tailoring to meet customer requirements. The approach to delivery needs to be pragmatic and agile whilst meeting demanding customer requirements for technical specification, timing, robustness and durability.

The role includes managing the development and integration of suspension systems, working alongside Design Engineers, CAE/Simulation teams, test and development teams, Programme Managers and Chief Engineers and supporting the development of junior engineers. This position requires an experienced chassis engineer with broad engineering expertise and proven project delivery skills to ensure successful execution from initial vision or concept to production.

What We Expect from You

• Serve as the technical authority in suspension design and development for assigned projects working closely with engineering teams from multiple disiplines and sectors.
• Own and be technically responsible for engineering content, quality and solutions.
• Ensure design integrity, compliance with standards, and alignment with customer requirements.

• Lead the technical planning and execution of suspension engineering tasks from concept through to production.
• Translate customer needs into actionable engineering deliverables through robust requirements management and solution development.
• Manage technical risks, resolve issues proactively, and ensure the timely delivery of milestones.
• Prepare and coordinate analytical design calculations, simulations, and testing; evaluate and interpret results.
• Conduct and supervise experimental investigations, including data analysis and reporting.
• Prepare project reports, including cost and timing estimates, technical specifications, and updates.
• Lead and support technical meetings both internal and external to Ricardo.
• Identify and coordinate with external suppliers.

• Coordinate with internal teams (design, validation, manufacturing) and external stakeholders (suppliers, clients).
• Facilitate effective communication across disciplines to ensure alignment and progress.
• Represent the chassis engineering team in customer meetings, technical reviews, and program updates.
• Lead or support the development of proposals for potential work through customer and internal meetings.

• Apply engineering theory to address complex problems with practical, scalable solutions.
• Promote continuous improvement in design, validation, and integration processes.
• Foster and implement innovative approaches to meet evolving technical challenges.
• Guide junior engineers and design personnel, fostering a culture of technical excellence.
• Provide technical sign-off and mentorship on chassis design reviews, validation plans, and documentation.
• Promote knowledge sharing and professional development within the team.

• Ensure all designs comply with regulatory, safety, and customer required standards.
• Review product designs for adherence to legislative and engineering standards as required.
• Supervise engineering documentation, including reports, BOMs, FMEAs, DVP&Rs, and test specifications.
• Uphold high standards of quality assurance throughout the product lifecycle.

• Deliver excellent customer service by understanding and anticipating client needs.
• Act as a trusted technical advisor, building long-term relationships through reliability and performance.
• Make sure all deliverables meet or surpass customer expectations in quality, timing, and budget.

• Be willing and able to work on UK defense projects that are classified up to and including Secret.
• Expertise in vehicle suspension design, development and integration.
• Engineering Fundamentals:
  Possesses a strong understanding of suspension and steering design and…