Electrical - Mechanical Engineer

An exciting opportunity to work in a small team focused on developing new technologies and projects. This role could be suitable for a recent graduate or a more experienced engineer.

The post holder will be responsible for the development of an electrical generator to support an innovation project. This will principally involve designing and manufacturing a testing rig to conduct bench testing and optimisation of the design.

The successful candidate will be responsible for devising a programme of product design, testing and further development, and then following that process. Reporting to the Delivery Manager, the post holder will manage the project, co-ordinate 3^rd parties, contribute to design discussions, and analyse test data. Strong communication and organisational skills will complement a solid technical understanding of the systems involved including electricity generation through electro-magnetic induction.

The postholder will need to be self-motivated and driven and be comfortable working with a range of stakeholders, including engineers, technicians and company directors.

Ecotricity

Ecotricity has been operating for almost 30 years and was the world’s first green energy supplier. With a clear mission to build a Green Britain, we’re always looking to push new forms of sustainable practices in energy, food and transport.

Project context

Wind energy is the best value renewable energy generation source in the UK at this time, but more can be done to improve efficiency and make the technology more accessible. The project aims to enhance the onshore wind sector by introducing new forms of wind turbines that can extract more energy from the wind more cost effectively while also making wind energy accessible to more people.

The successful candidate will be joining the project following a proof of principle for a novel design and will become responsible for the development programme of this technology among others that have been proposed.

Core Responsibilities

• Creating a programme to develop the new generator design, that addresses the issues raised in the proof of principle prototype stage, to production of a commercial model
• Project managing the programme, co-ordinating all parties and reporting on progress to the Delivery Manager
• Building a bench testing model generator to prove the theory and optimise the design
• Leading on testing procedures and analysing test results
• Advising stakeholders on the theory of electricity generation from wind
• Contributing to design discussions with 3^rd party engineers
• Completing risk assessments and method statements for test procedures and abiding by health and safety practices put in place to minimise risk

Additional Responsibilities

• Managing a budget, raising purchase orders, approving invoices for payment and other administrative duties
• Any other tasks that are necessary for the project to progress as and when these arise.

Essential Skills 

• Experience of Engineering design
• Knowledge of magnetic and electrical systems, especially generators
• Excellent data analysis
• Excellent organisational skills
• Good communication abilities
• A pro-active ‘can-do’ attitude
• Driven to make progress and to test new solutions
• Committed to thorough testing and health and safety practices

Desirable Skills 

• Knowledge of wind power theory
• Knowledge of computational fluid dynamics
• Computer Aided Design skills
• Previous testing and product development experience

What's in it for you...

Healthcare plan, life assurance and generous pension contribution
Volunteering day
Hybrid working
Various company discounts (including shops, gym, days out and events)
Holiday of 25 days (plus bank holidays) & ability to buy/sell days
Cycle to work scheme, car pooling and onsite parking available

As a valued member of the team you will be supporting the Group Environmental policy and its associated targets to make the Green Britain Group net carbon neutral by 2025

The fast moving nature of the company's business means that from time to time you may be asked to perform duties or tasks outside of your original job description on an ad hoc basis. This allows the company to use it's people in the best possible way at all times and helps the employees to make make their contribution in a changing environment. 

Ecotricity is Britain's greenest energy company. When we started back in 1995, we were the first company in the world to provide a new kind of electricity- the green kind.

Our mission was, and remains, to change the way energy is made and used in Britain- by replacing fossil fuels with clean, renewable energy.

We don't just supply green energy, we use the money from our customers' bills to make it ourselves too- we build windmills and sun parks in Britain. We call this 'bills in to mills'. In 2021, we started work on building two new solar parks, and now, in 2023, we're bringing geothermal energy to our customers' fuel mix, a first in the UK. We're also developing green gas mills which will generate 100% green gas from a source that we will never run out of- grass.

We don't just focus on energy though- we built Electric Highways, Britain's leading network of electric vehicle charging points, we helped Forest Green Rovers become the greenest football club in the world, and, in partnership with RSPB, we launched Britain's greenest mobile phone service, Ecotalk.

Ecotricity is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to providing equality for all.