Chris Watts
Mechanical Engineer
Profile
Chartered Mechanical Engineer with 6+ years of experience specialising in product design, FEA analysis, and manufacturing optimisation across aerospace and construction machinery sectors. Proven track record of delivering cost-effective engineering solutions, having reduced component weights by up to 12% while maintaining performance standards and led projects saving over £180K annually. Expert in advanced CAD modelling, simulation software, and cross-functional team leadership with strong commercial awareness.
Experience
Lead mechanical design engineer responsible for turbine blade component development for next-generation Trent aero engines, utilising advanced CAD and simulation tools to deliver high-performance solutions.
- Reduced turbine blade component weight by 12% through topology optimisation and lattice structures while maintaining 20-year fatigue life requirements
- Led cross-functional team of 6 engineers on design improvement project, delivering £180K annual cost savings through material optimisation
- Conducted complex FEA stress analysis using ANSYS for components operating at temperatures up to 1,600°C and 15,000 RPM
- Implemented design for manufacturing (DFM) principles, reducing production costs by 8% and assembly time by 15%
- Collaborated with suppliers to develop new titanium alloy specifications, improving component durability by 25%
- Mentored 3 graduate engineers and delivered technical presentations to senior management and customers
- Achieved 98% design approval rate on first submission through rigorous validation and testing protocols
Graduate engineer focused on hydraulic system design for excavator product lines, supporting new product development from concept through to production.
- Designed hydraulic cylinder assemblies for 20-tonne excavator range, achieving 15% improvement in lifting capacity
- Conducted FEA stress analysis and CFD flow simulations on hydraulic components, reducing prototype iterations by 30%
- Supported manufacturing team with DFM reviews and tolerance stack-up analysis, improving first-pass yield by 12%
- Developed technical drawings and 3D models in SolidWorks for over 150 hydraulic system components
- Performed field testing and validation of hydraulic systems, identifying and resolving 8 critical design issues pre-production
- Collaborated with procurement team to source cost-effective materials, achieving 6% reduction in component costs
- Created comprehensive technical documentation and assembly instructions for production teams
Summer placement supporting turbocharger design team with product development activities for automotive and industrial applications.
- Assisted in compressor wheel design modifications, contributing to 3% efficiency improvement in diesel engine applications
- Conducted thermal analysis using ANSYS Fluent to optimise cooling passage geometry in turbine housings
- Supported prototype testing program, collecting and analysing performance data for 12 turbocharger variants
- Created detailed technical drawings and specifications for machined components using GD&T standards
- Participated in design reviews and contributed innovative solutions for manufacturing cost reduction
Skills
- SolidWorks
- ANSYS (Mechanical, Fluent, CFX)
- Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
- Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
- Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T)
- Design for Manufacturing (DFM/DFA)
- Product Design & Development
- Tolerance Analysis & Stack-up
- Technical Drawing & Documentation
- MATLAB & Simulink
- AutoCAD
- Creo Parametric
- Materials Selection
- Manufacturing Processes
- Project Management
- Root Cause Analysis
- Thermal Analysis
- Fatigue Analysis
- Six Sigma Methodology
- Risk Assessment (FMEA)
Education
Certifications
- Chartered Engineer (CEng MIMechE) - Institution of Mechanical Engineers
- SolidWorks Certified Professional (CSWP)
- ANSYS Certified User - Mechanical Simulation
- Six Sigma Green Belt - Lean Manufacturing