Senior Development Engineer
Cranleigh STEM is partnering exclusively with an innovative organisation in the sustainability sector to recruit a driven and self-motivated Senior Development Engineer. This role provides an excellent opportunity for a motivated candidate to innovate, expand their R&D skills, and establish themselves as a leader in this exciting and growing field.
Key Responsibilities:
* Design, develop, build, and test prototype sub-assemblies for current and future product development.
* Work in a multidisciplinary team to prototype reactors, combustion chambers, and gas processing units, evaluating potential new technologies for next-generation products.
* Conduct research and development for hydrogen reforming, purification, combustion, and power generation technologies.
* Design, build, and test prototype advanced ammonia cracking reactors.
* Oversee system-level integration of hydrogen generators with purification, transport, storage, and power generation technologies.
* Ensure compliance with safety codes and standards for prototype system designs and experimentation.
* Specify and procure equipment for R&D applications, up to prototype operating systems.
* Develop innovative concepts and generate high-value intellectual property (IP) while ensuring freedom to operate.
* Drive design activities to achieve optimal engineering outcomes, collaborating with technical experts.
* Specify instrumentation and control systems for test rigs and prototypes.
* Write and present detailed test proposals, plans, and reports.
* Liaise with external test houses as needed.
* Generate risk assessments for test and development areas and rigs.
* Mentor and develop team members, fostering knowledge sharing and collaboration.
* Create new best practices and processes within the team, improving upon existing methods.
* Analyse and present empirical data to evolve the understanding of transient system behaviours.
Requirements:
Essential:
* Degree (or equivalent) in a relevant engineering or scientific discipline (ideally 2:1 or higher).
* Proven experience in an industrial R&D environment, specifically in development engineering.
* Practical hands-on skills in prototyping, assembling, and testing.
* Understanding of physical failure methods and approaches to root cause analysis.
* Strong grasp of design verification approaches and ability to define suitable test methods.
* Effective communicator, able to present findings concisely and accurately to senior management.
* Self-motivated and capable of progressing tasks autonomously.
* Strong organisational skills to manage multiple tasks, prioritise activities, and meet project deadlines.
Desirable:
* Knowledge of basic process engineering practices, including reaction engineering, gas purification techniques, and combustion technology.
* Understanding of power system design, including motors, transmissions, and energy storage solutions.
* Appreciation of other engineering disciplines such as aerodynamics, thermodynamics, CFD analysis, electrical systems, and electromagnetic systems.
* Experience with SolidWorks or other CAD/CAM tools.
* Familiarity with LabVIEW, MATLAB, Python, or other test-related software, modeling, or analysis tools.
* Knowledge of statistics, design of experiments, robust design, and systems engineering techniques.
* Understanding of materials science and manufacturing processes.
* Experience in using design tools and calculations to inform engineering decisions.