Stress Engineer

Job Description

Stress Engineer

Working Pattern: Full time

Location: Bristol

An exciting opportunity has arisen at Rolls-Royce in Bristol to recruit Mechanical Integrity Engineers to support a number of Defence programmes, including New Product Introduction (NPI) and mature products.

Mechanical Integrity at Rolls-Royce covers three key disciplines: Stress, Critical Parts Lifing, and Structural Systems Design (SSD). Successful candidates will be aligned to the most suitable discipline through the interview process.

• Stress Engineers ensure the mechanical integrity of our products by predicting component and sub-system behaviour. They support design activities across the product lifecycle, accounting for various failure mechanisms (e.g. proof, ultimate, low/high cycle fatigue, creep) and influencing factors such as vibration, thermal loads, manufacturing anomalies, corrosion, and extreme operating conditions. They play a key role from early design through to service and disposal.
• Critical Parts Lifing Engineers manage the most safety-critical components across their lifecycle. They perform mechanical and statistical analyses to implement safety controls, supporting design, manufacturing, and maintenance, while working closely with customers to ensure component lifing remains appropriate.
• SSD Engineers integrate and optimise all mechanical sub-systems at a whole-engine level. They analyse static, dynamic (rotordynamics, vibration, balancing), and extreme event behaviours (e.g. Fan Blade-Off) using a wide range of tools—from hand calculations to advanced Finite Element (FE) models like the Whole Engine Mechanical Model (WEMM). Later in the design cycle, they correlate engine test data with analytical predictions.

Why Rolls-Royce?

Rolls-Royce is one of the world’s most iconic brands, with a proud history of innovation for over a century. We design, build, and service systems that deliver critical power where safety and reliability are paramount.

We are a force for progress—powering, protecting, and connecting people everywhere. The excellence and ingenuity that have defined our past will shape our future, and we need people like you to help us get there.

These roles support the delivery of key programme milestones and contribute directly to our Defence Combat strategy for the next 50 years.

We offer an environment of belonging, where you can be yourself. You’ll be part of an inclusive and innovative culture that invests in your development and offers a breadth of career opportunities where you can grow and make an impact.

What We Offer

We offer excellent development opportunities, a competitive salary, and a comprehensive benefits package including bonus, employee assistance programmes, and discounts.

Hybrid working is supported, typically with three days per week in the office. This flexible approach is locally managed and subject to the security requirements of the role.

What You Will Be Doing

You will work across a variety of components and systems, with responsibility for ensuring the integrity and mechanical performance of our products.

This includes:

• Resolving complex technical problems by applying engineering judgment and interpreting results from multiple sources.
• Planning and overseeing mechanical tests, including rig and engine tests, and analysing results to validate models.
• Conducting mechanical design and analysis using numerical models and interdisciplinary boundary conditions, and verifying/calibrating results.
• Delivering defined technical work packages as part of a multidisciplinary team, meeting cost, quality, and schedule targets.
• Driving continuous improvement of tools, methods, and processes.

Who We’re Looking For

At Rolls-Royce, we live by our core principles: Put Safety First, Do the Right Thing, Keep it Simple, and Make a Difference. These values shape our culture and are integral to our assessment process.

We’re looking for engineers who demonstrate strong analytical thinking, communication skills, and a commitment to engineering excellence.

Specifically:

• A Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Engineering or a STEM subject (or equivalent experience) is required, ideally in Mechanical, Aeronautical, Electrical, or Controls Engineering. Candidates with a materials or mechanical analysis background are particularly encouraged to apply. Membership of a professional body and Chartered status (or working towards) is preferred.
• Strong technical knowledge of mechanical design and assessment methodologies (e.g. stress, fracture, fatigue), including use of FEA tools such as ANSYS, ABAQUS, MSC Nastran, or Altair.
• Understanding of material behaviour, crack propagation, contact mechanics, thermo-mechanical fatigue, and statistics.
• Awareness of cross-discipline engineering areas such as manufacturing, aerodynamics, thermals, and cost engineering.
• Experience in solving novel technical challenges and developing new processes where required.
• Basic coding ability (e.g. MATLAB, Python, VBA) for automation and data analysis is desirable.

Security Clearance

Some roles may require Security Check (SC) clearance. If not already in place, Rolls-Royce will support your application. Due to the nature of Defence work, UK nationality may be required for certain positions.

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