JOB DESCRIPTION
Project Description
A formal partnership between Loughborough University, Epigem Ltd., Taylor Hobson Ltd., Scitek Consultants Ltd.; the National Physical Laboratory and the Manufacturing Technology Centre Ltd. is driving this ambitious project for the advancement of cutting edge metrology science and engineering.
With the current global market for machine vision systems estimated to be worth $3.1bn it has been suggested that modern manufacturing industry should invest 1-2% of turnover in quality control. As high-value manufacturing reshapes the UK economy there is an increasing need for inspection and measurement systems that are capable of verifying large, expensive parts with strict tolerances. Good examples include the reel-to-reel production of thin film photovoltaic (PVs) structures, the verification of aerospace parts such as turbine blades, and the measurement of aspheric or freeform optical surfaces. Here, 100% inspection might require detection and measurement of sub-micron sized defects on components measuring several hundred millimetres or more. No instrumentation currently offers the dynamic range and throughput required for these tasks.
The project aims to: a) Demonstrate novel optical instrumentation for high-resolution inspection and precision measurement of large engineered parts by building an array of fibre-optic sources and phase-locked coherent imaging systems to synthesise a large numerical aperture; b) Develop efficient methods to process the recorded information by first identifying regions of interest within the field of view and subsequently measuring imperfections with high-resolution.
The Research Associate in this project will work as part of a multidisciplinary team of academics and industrial partners (Epigem Ltd., Taylor Hobson Ltd., Scitek Consultants Ltd.; the National Physical Laboratory and the Manufacturing Technology Centre Ltd.).
Job Purpose: The post holder will be responsible for the opto-electronics design, construction and testing of a distributed image sensor array of over 100 cameras (electronic layout, triggering, data acquisition, parallel computing); control of the illumination and reference sources; internal system synchronization; software development for instrument control and data pre-processing.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Specific, technical
- To review the relevant literature and the state-of-art of synthetic aperture interferometry / digital holography and distributed imaging systems.
- To design, build and test an array of illumination sources, reference sources and detector arrays to coherently synthesize a large optical aperture.
- To implement automatic triggering and synchronization of sources and detectors and data acquisition.
- To implement parallel computing and data transfer to maximize the overall system data acquisition/processing capability.
- To use concepts of linear systems theory to characterize the system’s performance.
- To design a calibration procedure and implement phase locking between independent sensors.
- To test and characterize the system’s performance (stability, repeatability, accuracy, speed, data throughput, etc.).
General, technical
- Liaise, when required, with project partners, manufacturers and equipment suppliers.
- Provide support and supervision to research students.
- Make presentations to industry and academia.
- Deputise for the project leader(s) when required.
- Work as part of a project and university team.
- Work effectively with relevant administrative, technical and academic staff in the School and across the University.
- Engage in training programmes in the University (e.g. through Staff Development) which are consistent with your needs and aspirations and those of the project team and the host department.
- Pursue excellence and maintain high standards of safety in all activities.
- Undertake other such duties as may be reasonably requested, and that are commensurate with the nature and grade of the post.
Applications: To submit your application for this position, please click on the"Apply through website" button. Please quote the reference numberREQ15221 and include a well-formatted cover letter along with your professional CV. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
The closing date for applications is 04.05.2015.
Conditions of Service: The appointment will be full-time or part-time and fixed-term for 36 months. Salary will be on Research Grade 6, £28,695 to £31,342 per annum, at a starting salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.
The appointment will be subject to the University's normal Terms and Conditions of Employment for Academic and Related staff, details of which can be found at: www.lboro.ac.uk/services/hr/a-z/conditions-of-service.html
DESIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
Essential
- A good honours degree in Electronic / Systems / Optical Engineering or Physics
- Post-graduate qualification to Doctorate level or significant experience at a senior level
- Excellent programming skills in e.g. Matlab / C++ / Python
- Proven experience of computer control of hardware and instrumentation
- Knowledge of imaging systems and image processing
- Relevant project management experience
- Experience of authoring original work for academic journal papers, conference papers or technical reports for industry
- Excellent communication skills
Desirable
- A higher degree (or equivalent experience)
- Knowledge of linear systems and interferometry
- Experience in parallel computing, CAD, FEA
- Previous experience in exploitation of research results
- Experience of working in, or collaborating with industry
- Working knowledge of programming languages/packages
- Valid licence for driving in the UK
ABOUT THE EMPLOYER
Loughborough University is one of the UK’s leading universities – consistently placed within the Top 20.
Located on a 438 acre single-site campus, Loughborough has a world-wide reputation for excellence in teaching and research, strong links with industry, and unrivalled sporting achievement. A research-intensive university, Loughborough is world-renowned for the high calibre of research produced - three departments were rated number one in the country. Loughborough has also been awarded six Queen's Anniversary Prizes.
The Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, was ranked among the UK top ten in this subject area in the REF 2014. Within the School, the Optical Engineering group has been awarded the 2000 Queen’s Anniversary prize for Further and Higher Education for its excellence.
Voted England’s Best Student Experience for six consecutive years, Loughborough is also recognised for supporting international students. Loughborough also won the Sunday Times University of the Year title (2008-09) and students rank us among the UK’s top institutions for student satisfaction.