Prototype & Virtual Development Engineer

Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 100,000 employees and sales of 27.3 billion euros in 2024, and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets.
Safran is in the 2nd place in the aerospace and defense industry in TIME magazine's "World's best companies 2024" ranking.

Safran Seats is one of the world's leading manufacturers of aircraft seats, for both crew and passengers. 1 million Safran Seats-manufactured aircraft seats are currently in service with air fleets around the world.

Prototype & Virtual Development Engineer
Permanent
Initially on site, Hybrid 3 days on site after c.6months

Skills: Virtual Reality Hardware, 3D Printing, Rapid Prototyping, VR, AR, Additive manufacturing, Concepts, Fabrication, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, 3D CAD, Mock-Ups, Virtual Environments, FDM, SLA, Laser Cutter

Looking after the people who make Safran great is our priority. We offer a range of flexible benefits designed to support you-both in and out of work, including:

Competitive salary and annual bonus and pay review
25 days' holiday + bank holidays (option to buy/sell)
Strong Pension scheme and life assurance
Professional development, ongoing training, mentoring
Onsite amenities: parking, restaurant, bicycle storage, showers
Family-friendly and accessible workplace policies
Early finish on Fridays

Your Role

As a Prototype & Virtual Development Engineer, you will be at the heart of innovation-creating, assembling, and refining physical and virtual prototypes to enable the highest standards in design development, customer reviews, and internal validation. You'll combine hands-on fabrication with digital expertise, working with a dynamic team to bring concepts to life using the latest materials and immersive technologies.

Key Responsibilities:

Build high-quality physical mock-ups and functional prototypes from CAD data and engineering drawings
Operate and maintain 3D printing, CNC, laser cutting, and other digital fabrication tools
Prepare and manage VR hardware for immersive review sessions; load, optimize, and troubleshoot VR environments
Support sales and engineering teams with demonstrator models, customer workshops, and presentations
Undertake ergonomic studies, spatial validation, and packaging reviews using virtual and physical environments
Advise teams on prototype materials, manufacturing feasibility, and cost/time trade-offs
Maintain workshop and VR kit stock, ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards
Support development of patentable concepts from idea to proof-of-concept demonstration

What You'll Bring:

Familiarity with VR/AR hardware and set-ups-Essential
Experience in hands-on prototype/mock-up fabrication - Essential
Proficiency using CAD software and digital fabrication tools (3D printing, laser cutting, CNC etc)-Essential
Ability to interpret surface data and design intent for translation into prototypes-Essential
Knowledge of workshop practices, Health & Safety, and stock management-Essential
Experience supporting sales, or customer-facing technical activities-Desirable
Creativity and agility in developing solutions under short timelines-Desirable

At Safran, we understand that diversity and inclusion make teams stronger and more effective, and as an organisation, we are committed to fair and equitable employment practices for everyone.

We also know that some candidates may be put off applying for jobs where they don't meet 100% of the criteria outlined in the advert, however, we encourage anybody to apply if you can demonstrate a variety of skills and experience relevant to the requirements of this role. Please let us know if you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to the application or hiring process that may better facilitate your participation.