We’ve always believed that good engineering is a team effort. The best outcomes come from strong fundamentals, practical experience, and learning from each other.

Both networks give us a clear view the latest developments in our core markets, and a straightforward way to share insight with and stay connected to the people leading this development.

Randle Engineering was established in 1994 with deep roots in automotive engineering. We still bring a first‑principles approach to complex problems particularly in vehicle dynamics, suspension, structures, and mechanical systems and that experience continues to inform our work across multiple sectors today.

SMMT brings together manufacturers, engineering specialists, and technology companies from across the global automotive supply chain. For us, membership is a practical way to stay close to the topics our customers care about, from emerging technologies to standards and policy that affect day‑to‑day engineering decisions.

Our SMMT membership strengthens our ability to:

• Keep up with changes in the automotive landscape and the issues influencing vehicle programmes
• Connect with other engineering teams across OEMs, suppliers, and specialist consultancies
• Contribute to discussions around engineering standards, guidance, and best practice
• Build our presence in the market though involvement with a range of working groups in technical areas aligned with our capabilities

Alongside automotive, we’re also supporting a growing range of defence clients bringing the same engineering discipline to safety critical, high‑performance applications.

Make UK Defence is the UK’s defence trade association, providing a link between engineering SMEs, prime contractors, and government stakeholders, and championing a strong, resilient supply chain.

Being part of Make UK Defence supports the way we work; collaborating early, communicating clearly, and delivering robust engineering in regulated environments. It also reflects our focus on building long‑term relationships across the defence supply chain showcasing our experience working within demanding, regulated programmes and a commitment to building trusted partnerships over the long term.

Whether we’re supporting early concepts, detailed design and analysis, or troubleshooting complex issues, staying engaged with the wider industry helps us challenge assumptions and keep our work relevant. We’re proud to be part of both communities, and look forward to continuing to contribute, listen, share what we’ve learned, and collaborating where we can.

If you would like to learn more about our work or discuss how Randle Engineering can support your next project, please get in touch: info@randle.co.uk | 01926 623 200

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We are a specialist UK mechanical engineering consultancy, based in Warwick, with a reputation built on first‑principles thinking, rigorous engineering, and long-term customer trust. Our size is intentional, our standards are uncompromising, and our people are central to everything we do.

A consultancy where engineering still means engineering.

Founded in 1990, Randle Engineering brings over three decades of innovation and delivery across multiple sectors, from passenger vehicles and commercial platforms to off‑highway machinery, aerospace, robotics, and medical applications.

Our engineers work on projects that span:

• Component and system development
• Full vehicle and concept programmes
• Powertrain and suspension integration
• Engineering problem solving from first principles, not templates.

This is a consultancy where hand calculations, free‑body diagrams and fundamental understanding really matter and where junior engineers are encouraged to build these skills with real world experience and mentorship from engineers with decades of industry experience and recognised for their technical excellence. Our engineers break down the barriers between designers and analysts. We do it all and apply the right tool at the right time…

What makes Randle different for early career engineers?

You will own real engineering work in your early weeks, months and beyond. Projects at Randle range from short, focused investigations to multi month programmes, sometimes led by a single engineer, sometimes delivered by small team. From early on, you are trusted to own your tasks, make decisions, manage stakeholders, and present your work clearly.

You will learn to solve problems, how to apply and develop your ideas? Not just what to do. We expect high technical standards, but we support you in getting there with structured development pathways aligned to UK‑SPEC / IMechE competencies. Technical mentoring from experienced engineers and regular one‑to‑one support and feedback. Time and space to properly analyse problems in a small, supportive, high trust team.

We are a small consultancy by design, this creates a flat structure with no heirs and graces with high staff retention. A calm, quiet office environment with room for deep work with open opportunity for discussion, debate, and continuous improvement initiatives. We value opinions, discussion is encouraged, questioning is welcomed, and learning is continuous.

Our Approach: “Randleness”

Internally, we talk about “Randleness” our shorthand for customer added value through engineering excellence. It means, getting to the heart of a problem, removing unnecessary complexity. Applying rigour from first sketches and calculations through to delivery and presenting work clearly and confidently.

As our Founders favourite quote reminds us,

“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Location, flexibility, and benefits

We work primarily from the office, with face‑to‑face collaboration at the heart of how we operate, alongside flexible home working (up to two days per week). Competitive salary and benefits including, private healthcare (inc optical & dental), pension contributions, salary sacrifice car scheme, cycle‑to‑work scheme and DIS and IPP.

Who thrives at Randle Engineering?

You will enjoy Randle if you:

• Want to understand systems deeply, not just re-use what was done before.
• Enjoy solving problems from first principles.
• Are comfortable owning work and learning through responsibility?
• Value quality, clarity, and technical integrity
• Want exposure to diverse engineering challenges early in your career.

Ready to start building real engineering experience?

We regularly welcome graduate and junior mechanical engineers who want to develop into technically confident, respected engineering professionals.

Interested? Get in touch via our careers page or LinkedIn.

The post Engineering careers built on first principles. Freedom to engineer. A career with Randle Engineering. appeared first on Randle Engineering.

Javier joins Randle with over nine years of specialist experience in vehicle dynamics, covering both passenger and commercial vehicles across multiple global OEMs. He brings a deep technical capability spanning multibody dynamics, simulation model creation, kinematics and compliance optimisation, active chassis systems, vehicle testing, calibration, and validation.

Most recently, Javier served as vehicle dynamics principal engineer at a leading automotive technology business. Here, he was involved in developing software‑defined, zero‑emission vehicle platforms, integrating advanced drive and control systems. This involved both physical and simulation-based vehicle dynamics validation.

Previously, Javier held roles at Tata Motors European Technical Centre, Jaguar Land Rover, and IDIADA Automotive Technology, all experiences that have equipped him with extensive experience in ADAMS model development, target setting, objective and subjective benchmarking, procedural development, R&D leadership, and technical training delivery.

Technically, Javier is highly proficient and alongside his engineering career, he is currently completing an MSc in maths and computing engineering, specialising in numerical methods and dynamic systems modelling.

Commenting on his new role, Javier said: “Randle combines serious engineering intelligence with a genuinely welcoming culture, which is a rare and powerful mix. The first‑principles mindset and cross‑sector work make it an inspiring place to think, test and build ideas. I’m delighted to be joining the team and contributing to what comes next.”

Peter Benzie, engineering manager at Randle Engineering welcomed the appointment: “We are thrilled to bring Javier into the team. He is a fantastic fit with his technical ability, inquisitive nature and collaborative skills. Known for his questioning approach and desire to truly understand the mathematics behind every problem, he brings a rare depth of analytical thinking to his work in vehicle dynamics, modelling and advanced control. This mindset significantly underpins our capability and reflects our commitment to delivering intellectually rigorous consultancy across automotive, defence, aerospace, robotics and beyond.”

Established in 1994 by highly respected automotive engineer Steve Randle, Randle Engineering delivers cutting‑edge design, analysis and simulation across a wide range of sectors, applying first‑principles engineering to solve complex challenges. The team continues to support an expanding global client base with sector‑agnostic, technically rigorous engineering solutions.

For further information about Randle Engineering’s services, please contact the team at the Warwick HQ on 01926 623 200.

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Currently in its third year of flight trials under CAA authorisation, CAPSTONE is a coaxial twin-rotor aircraft which is more efficient and scalable by design than other traditional helicopters and multi-rotors. Capable of carrying 300kg of payload, the prototypes have been tested in various Ministry of Defence flight trials and, in consequence, Certo is now collaborating with BAE Systems in a new competitive tender for the forthcoming multi-year MOD programme, Project NYX.

Randle Engineering is working on various key areas of the development pathway, all with the overarching mission to preserve and expand the optimal ratio of payload mass to maximum take-off weight, which is already at 50%. The Randle team is contributing specifically in the design of the aerodynamic airframe structures, HF engine integration and driveline systems.
Computer-aided design (CAD) has been central to the Randle design effort and linear static analysis used to define load cases. Modal analysis helped evaluate force isolation and vibration response, while non-linear impact analysis was conducted to assess impact behaviour. FEA simulations were performed using Solidworks with OptiStruct FEA used as required to optimise the mass of the sub-systems.

Designed to save and protect lives across defence, logistics, disaster response and energy sectors, Certo’s CAPSTONE project reflects the UK’s growing engineering innovation, IP and industrial strength in the autonomy sector. Randle Engineering’s important contribution further demonstrates the robustness of the UK’s engineering design industry and the value that established engineering design enterprises can bring to new demand signals, such as the increasing calls for UAVs in applications such as disaster relief, defence and logistics.
Ally McMahon, chief executive officer at Randle Engineering, said: “This type of cutting-edge project is perfect for our team, given our track record in innovation across the automotive and aerospace sectors. Our approach to engineering is firmly based on first principles. We solve new challenges like this with a clean sheet of paper, rather than trying simply to adapt off-the-shelf concepts that may be wholly unsuitable.”

McMahon continued: “With two contra-rotating main rotors on top, and no tail rotor, CAPSTONE’s form factor not only reaps a significant energy advantage but also makes the overall length of the aircraft at least 33% smaller than a conventional helicopter of the same lift capability. Another advantage of this modular design includes that it allows for rapid re-roling from CASEVAC to construction, from firefighting to famine relief and across a multiplicity of military roles including logistics and submarine detection.
“We are also learning from the advanced aerodynamic analysis we are conducting with academics that the particular coaxial control system employed on CAPSTONE has distinct advantages in real-world weather conditions and operational military scenarios.”
Justin Tooth, CEO at Certo Aerospace, added: “Having Randle Engineering as our lead design consultancy on these highly challenging and specialised areas of our development pathway has proved a significant boost to our rate of progress. The Randle engineers bring excellent experience in design and project management that are highly complementary to our own. Contributing at this level to a wholly novel aircraft class is also really rewarding professionally, so it is very encouraging to see our colleagues at Randle enjoying this journey as much as we do!”
Ends

For further information, contact St John White at Loki PR on 07864 875743 / stjohn@lokipr.co.uk

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Benchmarking is NOT planning to ‘copy’ a competitor product, but a scientific process to characterise essential attributes of vehicle performance and feed them into the programme requirements. A way to ensure the vehicle is competitive in its market sector and to guide engineers in the development process.

Every vehicle programme starts with a high level ‘target’ defined by the brand’s corporate identity and class of vehicle being developed. The use of benchmark data provides ‘context’ for this high-level target, providing guidance on market expectations and highlighting areas of differentiation.

Benchmarking is a science

Benchmarking is a science, a planned and measured part of the development process that makes use of subjective and objective metrics to analyse vehicle performance; completing tests and recording information in a way directly repeatable as part of the later vehicle validation process, ensuring a true ‘like for like’ comparison is made. It is not a process based on personal preferences or opinion, but one that follows defined and repeatable test procedures aligned with industry requirements for performance and safety.

It is essential that a repeatable procedure is used; for subjective reviews this requires a well-defined set of test parameters and scoring metrics. For objective tests the data must be collected by calibrated instrumentation to record vehicle performance, ensuring repeatability of the tests and extracting maximum value from the benchmarking programme.

Engineers experienced in running benchmark programmes provide significant added value on top of the recorded data, providing valuable insight into the individual performance metrics; insight that is born from a fundamental understanding of the physics behind vehicle behaviour and the way vehicles react to certain inputs.

Why structured benchmarking is critical for developing performance targets

Setting targets without consideration of market requirements and insight into competitor performance is likely to lead to unrealistic, unachievable or misaligned project goals.

The benchmarking process helps the vehicle manufacturer define the boundaries of performance across attributes – for vehicle dynamics this will include both ride and handling metrics, with the balance between these defined by the market positioning of the vehicle.

It is essential that the correct balance is struck between individual attributes, and that a full understanding of the implications of the targets is in place. For example, targeting ride performance of a Mercedes S Class (a leading performer in this attribute) with the handling performance of a BMW M5 will give an unrealistic set of targets – the bush stiffnesses and suspension geometries required to deliver S Class levels of ride will inhibit the ability to corner at the high lateral accelerations achieved by the M5.

For Randle Engineering, the application of engineering first principles early in a development programme ensures a thorough understanding of the engineering fundamentals required to develop the vehicle, removing guesswork and ensuring efficiency in the programme. This process is complemented by the use of benchmark data.

Benchmarking is not about imitation – it fuels innovation

A well-executed benchmarking programme can ignite the development of innovative solutions – it allows engineers to identify gaps in the competitive landscape and exploit them to the benefit of their programme.

They can fully understand the compromises their contemporaries have accepted and the opportunities to solve them to give a competitive advantage – informing true unique selling propositions for their products.

For Randle Engineering, the use of benchmark information fuels the first principles reasoning we apply to our projects – making sure we develop solutions aligned with market requirements in an efficient and effective way.

Benchmarking, for us, is not just about physical testing – we utilise a range of in-house developed tools to model vehicle performance, including the performance of benchmarks. These advanced modelling tools provide a quick-fire way to understand vehicle performance and the fundamental mathematics that underpins the suspension systems.

The use of modelling at this early stage will allow for a rapid concept phase, with clear understanding of performance and the impact of suspension design considerations at a much earlier stage than is typical – a clear benefit for manufacturers delivering programmes with short durations.

We see benchmarking as an essential part of the development process and a key input to fully understand the vehicle development targets.

Do you have the same opinion?

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Giving Back with the ‘Giving Tree’

As part of the Warwick Science Park Giving Initiative, we were proud to support the KidsOut charity through their wonderful ‘Giving Tree’ program. This fantastic initiative helps bring joy to children who might otherwise miss the magic of Christmas. Randle contributed three donations, and knowing these gifts will light up a child’s festive season makes our tree shine even brighter.

The Sparkle of Christmas

Speaking of trees—our office Christmas tree is looking spectacular! Its twinkling lights have added a warm glow to the workspace, reminding us that even engineers appreciate a little sparkle. You will not know the pressure of decorating a tree as a non-engineer around engineers! Equal bauble distribution, light coverage, and placement of star must be just so!

Party Highlights

Randle Christmas Party was a blast—laughter, tasty food, and plenty of festive spirit. And if that was not enough, last week’s Tech Centre Christmas buffet kept the celebrations rolling. Nothing brings people together like a shared plate of mince pies!

Festive Bakes & Sweet Treats and The Great Biscuit Challenge – A huge shout-out to Julia and Guy, who wowed us with their festive bakes. The month’s not over yet, bring on the stretchy trousers.

How do you get our engineers excited about games? Simple: throw biscuits into the mix! Our biscuit challenge sparked competitive spirits and plenty of laughs. Who knew rating the biscuits could be so tough!

For those who prefer a non-foodie game, the OWTT (Outdoor Wooden Tension Tower) made an appearance. It might not roll off the tongue like its branded counterpart, but it certainly kept us entertained. Structural integrity meets festive fun—what more could you want? Again, playing as a non-engineer with engineers, no pressure!

Festive Spreadsheeting: A New Interview Question?

Here is a quirky fact: some of our team members have a spreadsheet for their Christmas dinner schedule. Yes, really! So, are you a festive spreadsheeter or do you wing it? This should be our next interview question! After all, cooking is an art, baking is a science—where do you stand?

From all of us at Randle Engineering, we wish you a joyful festive season filled with sparkle, laughter, and maybe a few biscuits!

The post Festive Cheer at Randle Engineering: Giving Back and Celebrating Together appeared first on Randle Engineering.

As the automotive industry advances towards higher levels of automation, vehicle manufacturers are increasingly integrating ‘X-by-wire’ systems – such as throttle-by-wire, shift-by-wire and brake-by-wire – to support automated driving functions.

These systems remove the mechanical connection between the user input and the vehicle actuation systems, replacing them with sophisticated networks of sensors, controllers and actuators that precisely control the vehicle in response to the user input.

Unlike other X-by-wire systems that have seen widespread adoption, steer-by-wire has remained a rarity in series production vehicles. Most manufacturers have opted for electric power assisted steering (EPAS) to enable their automated driving features. However, steer-by-wire offers significant advantages over EPAS, including enhanced handling characteristics, greater flexibility in component packaging and the ability to tune steering feel late into the development process.

This white paper explores these advantages and contrasts them with the challenges manufacturers face in developing steer-by-wire systems for series production.

It offers a comprehensive view of this emerging technology and its application, summerising how it will shape the future development of steering systems.

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Meet Jonathan, Senior Consultant Engineer at Randle

Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m a mechanical engineer with an interest in all things vehicular, from tractors to trains. I like my cars to be RWD (although at the moment I drive a FWD plug-in hybrid), and I raced R/C cars for many years. These days I do some sim racing on-line, which is easier to fit in around family commitments. I also help to fix things as a volunteer at a local Repair Café, help at a local miniature railway, and regularly enjoy cruising the canals with a group of friends.

How long have you worked in the business?

I joined Randle in Spring 2023.

What’s your background/experience?

After completing a degree in Automotive Engineering at Loughborough University, I joined Ricardo’s graduate programme and progressed over the next 20+ years to Chief Engineer, designing transmissions initially for motorsport and then for roadgoing and off-highway vehicles.

My experience covers the full design process from concept, through component design and analysis, to detail drawings and prototype build support. I have knowledge of many adjacent areas such as manufacturing, electric machines, batteries, software and controls.

How did you come to start working at Randle?

Although I hadn’t been looking to move, the role at Randle presented an opportunity to broaden my skills into different areas (and to revive my long-standing interest in suspension and handling) that was too interesting to turn down! I’m thoroughly enjoying my new role and am proud to be part of such a capable team.

Tell us a bit about your current role at Randle

What are your key responsibilities?

Essentially anything that’s required to deliver the project! On several of my projects I’ve worked on what we call Target Setting, which is where we calculate what suspension characteristics are required to give the vehicle-level ride and handling behaviour that we want, and Performance Review, where conversely we analyse a vehicle’s suspension parameters to predict how it will ride and handle. I’ve loved getting involved in some of the more varied and unusual design challenges that Randle take on from time to time – as well as finding opportunities to make use of my transmissions experience.

What skills does someone need to be great in this job?

A good grasp of maths and physics/engineering principles, with the ability to relate and apply these to how things actually behave in reality. Curiosity is crucial, and an ability to step back and see the bigger picture is really important too.

What does a typical day in your role look like?

Depending on what stage of a project I’m at, a mixture of discussions with the client, working on analyses, or writing up the results into a clear and concise presentation. Sometimes there are really interesting technical conversations about a particularly tricky challenge.

What’s the culture like at Randle?

Always focused on the challenge at hand, but also friendly with little hierarchy, and very open discussions.

What three words would you use to describe Randle and your experience working here?

Friendly, rigorous, knowledgeable

What’s your favourite project you’ve worked on or your favourite part of the job?

The variety of applications – already I’ve worked on a tractor, a van, and a sports car!

How do you become an engineer?

By being interested in how things work, and how you can apply that interest and knowledge to solve problems. Ultimately engineering is done with numbers, so you need a good grounding in maths and physics, but hands-on experience making things, taking them apart or fixing them is also really valuable. I took the academic route via a university degree, but an apprenticeship can be a great way in too depending on the sort of person you are.

What’s next for you? What are your career goals?

I love exploring the challenges that engineering presents, so I hope to continue applying my technical skills wherever possible. I want to further broaden my design skills and vehicle dynamics knowledge, perhaps including subjective vehicle testing to relate back to the analyses.

The post Staff Spotlight: Jonathan Hodgson, Senior Consultant Engineer appeared first on Randle Engineering.

The company has continued to grow with the appointment of Jonathan Hodgson as Senior Consultant Engineer; joining us in May, he has brought with him a wealth of experience which has complimented our multi-talented team. We continue to look for the stars of the engineering world, so get in touch if you’re looking for a new challenge.

In April we welcomed two little female additions to the Randle family – CEO Ally McMahon became a dad for the first time and Consultant Engineer Joe Harris said hello to a new daughter, a sister for his 3-year-old son.

July saw the launch of our Summer Step Challenge. The team set out to virtually walk 2350 miles from our offices in Warwick to the Volvo headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden via many of the major European car marques over 8 weeks. This was also an opportunity to fundraise for Operation Manager, Sarah Hookey’s son Lincoln who needed SDR surgery at Alder Hey Hospital. As a group, we smashed it, covering 2776 miles in total and raising £1,120 and counting.

Over the year we have also enjoyed some social get togethers and activities including regular visits to the new Bike Trials on Newbold Comyn and an after-work burger night at the Black Pug in Warwick.

Lunchtime walk and talks have also been an enjoyable feature of our weekly routine. The annual Christmas meal saw us head off to the Royal Pug in Leamington Spa to enjoy a lovely 3 course festive feast, a quiz and much laughter and jollity.

This year also saw our founder Steve Randle hand over CEO duties to Ally McMahon. This will allow Steve more time to use his exceptional engineering skills on project work and outside business interests. He will remain as company chairman. Senior Consultant Engineer, Peter Benzie, became Engineering Manager, Jan Snape was appointed Integration & Development Manager and Consultant Engineer, David Wellbeloved, was rewarded with a promotion to Senior Consultant Engineer

Looking ahead to 2024 – it is our 30^th anniversary, so we are planning a calendar of events to celebrate – look out for our posts in the new year.

We hope you have a happy and healthy 2024!

The post 2023 A Year in Review appeared first on Randle Engineering.

We asked him to write about his time with Randle and the knowledge he had gained from it:

My Work Experience

‘A recent survey showed two thirds of employers look for graduates with relevant work experience because it helps them prepare for work and develop general business awareness. Importantly, one third of employers felt that applicants did not have a satisfactory level of knowledge about their chosen career or job.’ – UCAS website

Despite how nervous I was starting my work experience, everyone on the Randle team was very friendly. They made sure I understood both what I was doing and how my work would be used to help new employees better understand the physics concepts that they would be using on a daily basis. I felt like my work would make a real contribution to the company and everyone there, whilst still not feeling like I was pressured to complete any task or being rushed for a deadline.

During my 2 weeks at Randle, I always felt like I had creative control over the projects I was engaged in, whilst always being able to ask for help if I didn’t understand what I should do. The team collaborated to give me projects to work on that were relevant to my interest in Computer Science despite it not being Randle’s main focus.  I worked on developing my excel skills, using VBA coding to create animations in excel, exploring new software using Python to create models, and creating a guide to use the new touch screen display.

This experience has been useful to me as it has shown me how my academic studies can be used in the workplace as I was especially pleased to see my knowledge of complex numbers from maths come in handy when working with real world simulations. I was able to talk about the tasks I was doing to make sure they were within my capabilities whilst still challenging my skills as everyone was very understanding if I found it too difficult.

 I was very impressed with how the team focused on giving me a greater understanding of many different elements of work as they went out of their way to teach me both the engineering theory that they use as well as the business skills needed in creating deals with customers and planning how to deliver their models. This has helped me gain a better understanding of the direction I want to go in my career and what areas of Computer Science I enjoy the most.

My time working with Randle has far exceeded my expectations of work experience as I have gained valuable knowledge to guide my future career choices instead of being put on tea making duty as some of my friends have been doing.

Peter Benzie, Senior Consultant Engineer, mentored William and said the following:

‘It has been a pleasure to host William for his work experience. William exceeded our expectations and was able to complete the tasks that he was given to a very high standard. Williams ability to pick up the tasks and then work independently was very impressive.  The work that William has completed will be integrated into our tools and adds an excellent visual dimension to what we had before.”

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