Job Description
R&D Technician | De’Longhi Group (De’Longhi, Kenwood and Braun) | Kenwood Global Headquarters, Havant, Hampshire | £competitive + excellent benefits package
Closing Date 12th January 2025
Hands-on innovation starts here. At De’Longhi Group, our Research and Development team plays a pivotal role shaping the future of kitchen innovation. We’re seeking a new R&D Technician to join this supportive and collaborative team and contribute to exciting New Product Development projects.
This is a hands-on role that offers variety and growth. It could suit either a college or academic graduate with the right technical aptitude, or somebody with relevant demonstrable skills and experience.
The role
The successful applicant will work on multiple NPD projects within the De’Longhi Group food preparation category, primarily conducting testing and design verification during the development phases of products.
Your role will encompass performance, pre-compliance and safety tests, benchmarking and maintenance of our laboratory facilities. As part of your day to day work you will use specialist equipment such as high-speed cameras, thermal imaging, noise and vibration analysis tools as well as temperature and power data acquisition systems.
You will also write technical reports, analyse data, and share your findings with the team. This blend of hands-on work and data-driven insight in support of NPD is a key component of the role.
Key responsibilities
Your responsibilities include (but are not limited to) the following:
● Testing of products and prototypes as required by the R&D department.
● Writing technical reports & presenting product and prototype verification test results.
● Analysing products and prototypes to determine failure modes and identify improvement opportunities.
● Setting up and maintaining test equipment and tools.
● Facilitating the manufacture of test jigs and fixtures.
● Planning and organising your workload in the development test laboratory.
● Identifying and implementing improvements to processes and/or the working environment in the laboratory areas.
● Ordering laboratory materials and components as required.
● Health & Safety compliance: adhering to all Health & Safety regulations and company procedures in order to keep the workspace safe for all users.
About you
We’re looking for someone with hands-on skill working with the tools and equipment mentioned above, and preferably but not essentially also including mills, lathes, 3D printers, and testing tools.
However, it’s important to note that due to the various possible entry levels for this role, the right candidate could demonstrate a strong technical aptitude and desire to learn these skills on the job, and more junior applicants will be trained to the desired level and fully supported in their role. They will most likely have relevant college training (HNC, HND or degree) and/or applicable work experience in a relevant environment.
Skilled professionals with a background in laboratory environments or electromechanical product development testing could enter at a higher level and help to steer the team.
An understanding of fundamental engineering principles and electrical safety is highly desirable, and you must have a proactive, solutions-focused attitude. You will be well-supported but must have the initiative to run tasks without being micromanaged.
Whether you’re early in your career or more experienced, we are looking for someone who is enthusiastic, adaptable, and committed to working as part of a flexible and responsive team, and who embraces change and challenge.
What’s in it for you?
You’ll have the opportunity to work on innovative products that you’ll see in stores, and to help shape the future of the kitchen appliance industry. Our supportive environment will help you grow in your career, regardless of your level. Our work environment and investment into staff is outstanding; our extensive benefits include:
● Competitive salary
● Excellent contributory pension
● 25 days holiday + bank holidays
● Superb subsidised restaurant
● Free on-site parking
● Flexible benefits package
● Staff discount on our De'Longhi, Kenwood and Braun products
● Access to a range of wellbeing activities and events
About us
De’Longhi Group is home to the De'Longhi, Kenwood and Braun Household brands, all being pioneering kitchen and home appliance brands that are internationally recognised and respected. The De'Longhi Group, headquartered in Treviso, Italy, has international operations in more than 30 countries.
The location
Your reporting office will be Kenwood’s global HQ on the beautiful South Coast between Portsmouth and Chichester, where our products are conceived and tested, and where our UK De’Longhi division is based. The role is primarily on-site, five days a week with an early finish on Friday afternoons. However, once you’re established in your role, it’s likely you’ll have some flexibility to work remotely on occasion, when warranted. You should live within commuting distance, and ideally have a driver’s licence.