Lead Repair Development Engineer (Coatings)

About the role

A specialist engineering team is recruiting a senior individual-contributor Lead Repair Development Engineer to research, develop and implement repair solutions for coated components. The role sits within a technical centre of excellence and leads complex coating repair programmes from concept through to production approval, working closely with design, materials and operations teams.

Key responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end development of repair schemes for thermally sprayed, diffusion and overlay coatings on high-value engineering components
• Define and run experimental test plans, interpret results and support repair process qualification
• Write and maintain repair process specifications, work instructions and engineering documentation under quality management systems
• Work with design authority, quality assurance and production engineering to align repair development with programme milestones
• Engage suppliers, subcontractors and accreditation bodies to progress process approvals
• Investigate in-service coating degradation and field returns using root-cause analysis to build corrective repair solutions
• Mentor junior engineers and recommend emerging coating technologies
• Represent the coatings repair function in project reviews and technical gate meetings

Required profile

• Degree in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or a closely related field; a postgraduate qualification is advantageous
• Substantial experience in coating engineering, with a track record in repair process development or manufacturing engineering for coated components
• Familiarity with aerospace, power generation or other regulated quality frameworks such as AS9100 or Nadcap
• Ability to manage several technical workstreams and deliver on time and within budget
• Clear English communication and presentation skills

Required skills

• Knowledge of coating processes such as thermal spray (HVOF, plasma spray, cold spray), chemical vapour deposition or electroplating
• Writing and reviewing engineering specifications, process sheets and qualification documentation
• Failure analysis and root-cause investigation