Prototype Technician

Job Title: Prototype Technician

Location: Malmesbury 5 days a week

Duration: 6 months

Start: ASAP

Pay Rate: GBP26 P/H

Background

Our companies interest in researching and developing energy storage technologies started more than a decade ago, when it became apparent that the full potential of our DDM motors were starting to be held back by commercially available batteries. Fast-forward to 2022, and we now have over 100 scientists and engineers working on battery R&D across our labs in the UK, US and Singapore.

With multiple generations of battery technologies ranging from early research through the industrialisation phase, We are recruiting a wide range of roles across their UK and Singapore labs to accelerate progress. These roles include materials scientists, electrochemists, cell design engineers, cell test technicians, cell assembly technicians, mechanical design engineers, manufacturing process development engineers and manufacturing technologists. We are recruiting at all levels of seniority up to senior technical leadership roles.

Role Summary

You will join a team of material scientists, electrochemists, mechanical and electronic engineers at our Malmesbury Research campus. To meet the business's growing energy storage requirements, your focus will be the production of prototype cells. You will be involved in the end to end process from chemical processing and roll to roll coatings, through preparation of components, to the hands-on assembly of prototype cells using a combination of manual and automated processes. In this role you will have access to the latest technologies from around the world and develop the next generation of batteries. You will be part of a multi-disciplinary team and have opportunity to develop capabilities across a range of materials processing, cell assembly and characterisation techniques.

Key Responsibilities of the role

• Gain a clear understanding of the Energy Storage Requirements and apply your knowledge to prepare and develop custom materials and components in our cells, enabling the next generation of our products.
• Be responsible for delivering maintenance, operational and/or technical tasks and processes across a range of core operational activities across the engineering life cycle.
• Use a combination of practical experience in manual and semi-automated assembly and materials processing alongside continuous improvement to carry out and optimise processes that provide prototype cells for testing, on time and in full.
• Be responsible for quality, from traceability to characterisation to advance materials and cell performance.

Experience and Qualifications

• Educated with practical experience in a chemical, physical science or engineering discipline relevant to assembly and battery manufacturing techniques.
• Relevant industrial experience. For example, a background in the battery, electronics, aerospace, assembly industries and/or chemical, pharmaceutical, coatings, plastics, food, converting industries.
• Practical experience of accurate and repetitive manual assembly whilst maintaining accuracy and quality over extended periods. Providing examples of roles involving exceptional fine motor skills.
• Practical experience of working with and maintaining automated and semi-automated assembly equipment, including problem solving.
• Practical experience of handling kilo scale quantities of hazardous materials and use of protective equipment.
• Good understanding of health, safety and environmental responsibilities within a chemical environment.
• Experience of a quality driven research environment, traceability systems and maintaining auditable assembly records.
• Experience of following standard operating procedures and change control in a research and development environment.
• Experience of performing quality control procedures from goods-in to final product.
• Problem solving, analytical with an attention to detail.
• Excellent team working and interpersonal skills, including flexibility and adaptability whilst working across teams.
• Ability to communicate appropriate, concise and accurate information. Practised in the use of office applications for recording, processing and presenting data.

Desirable experience

• Prior experience of the materials and processes used in the energy storage industry, training will be provided.
• Practical knowledge of analytical and characterisation techniques used in chemical and materials processing.
• Experience of kilo scale chemical manufacture and materials processing.
• Experience of manual and semi-automated assembly processes.
• Operation and maintenance of converting equipment.
• Operation, maintenance and method development of welding and heat-sealing equipment.
• Operation, maintenance of presses and press tooling.
• Lean Six Sigma tools

Key Behaviours

• Teamwork. Team player, both in operating within the immediate team, the global energy storage team, and the broader team.
• Flexibility. Able to adapt to the constantly changing environment that is inherent in this disruptive technology driven company.
• Process driven approach. Implements and maintains effective and efficient processes.
• Resilience. Responds to change and adversity positively. Seeks opportunity in situations which may initially seem negative.
• Accuracy, and objectivity in communication and reporting. It is important that we don't over-sell or under-sell achievements, to facilitate good decision making.
• Commitment and ownership. We are a family owned business, which makes long term commitments to stretching technology challenges. The strongest candidates will want to be on this journey with us rather than just doing a job