Materials Test & Validation Engineer

AssetCool; Leeds; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative energy transition company in the UK is seeking a Materials Test and Validation Engineer to validate conductor coatings and support product improvements. Responsibilities include designing test protocols, managing external laboratories, and analysing test data. Ideal candidates should have a degree in Materials Science or related fields, along with practical experience in testing and validation. Join a fast-growing startup focused on revolutionizing the power grid offering competitive salaries and flexible work options.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Flexible work options

Career growth opportunities

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in test & validation, R&D, or systems engineering.
• Practical experience in testing environmental degradation.
• Experience managing external validation projects with laboratories.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement test rigs for material stress testing.
• Manage testing programs with external laboratories.
• Analyse large test datasets and provide reports for improvements.
• Collaborate with teams to enhance product standards.

Skills

Technical Expertise in coatings or metallurgy

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Documentation skills

Communication skills

Education

Degree in Materials Science, Metallurgy, Chemical Engineering, or related

Tools

Python

MATLAB

Data Acquisition Systems

Job description

AssetCool is addressing one of the most pressing challenges in the global energy transition - grid congestion. By combining cutting-edge grid robotics with breakthrough materials science, our technology transforms the physical performance of the grid in situ, increasing current-carrying capacity by up to 30%, at just 5% of the cost and in a tenth of the time compared to conventional approaches.

In addition to enhancing capacity, our solutions tackle other grid constraints including corrosion, electrical noise, and enable the collection of high-value data to build accurate, predictive digital twins. This technology is proving transformative and is being adopted at an accelerating pace, with deployments across Canada, Slovenia, the UK, and the USA, and a strong global deployment pipeline.

AssetCool is a fast-growing company with plans to more than double in size over the next six months. Backed by international investors from the US, mainland Europe, and the UK, we are proud to be one of the most innovation-focused companies in the UK energy sector.

We’re looking for ambitious, mission-driven individuals who are excited to work hard alongside their colleagues to build and deploy world-leading technology that tackles some of the planet’s most urgent infrastructure challenges.

Role Overview

As the Materials Test and Validation Engineer, you will play a critical role in ensuring the performance and longevity of our proprietary coatings. You will be responsible for validating our conductor coatings through both internal testing and management of third-party laboratories. You will design and execute test plans, build test rigs, collect and analyse data, and provide clear feedback to design teams. This role requires strong hands‑on skills, analytical thinking, and cross‑disciplinary knowledge.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute test protocols specifically for specialised coatings and composites.
• Design and implement test rigs and fixtures for material stress testing and validation in lab and field.
• Manage and oversee comprehensive testing programs with external laboratories, covering mechanical, electrical, and environmental validation requirements.
• Collect, process, and analyse large test datasets; prepare reports with actionable insights for engineering and chemistry teams.
• Collaborate with chemistry and engineering departments to close the loop between testing and product improvements.
• Ensure compliance with safety standards and applicable regulations.
• Support root cause analysis and troubleshooting during development and field deployment.
• Maintain test equipment, calibration, and documentation, and support establishing testing standards across development.

Key Skills and Experience

Required

• A Degree in Materials Science, Metallurgy, Chemical Engineering, or a related field focusing on composites or coatings.
• 3+ years’ experience in test & validation, R&D, or systems engineering.
• Technical Expertise: Strong practical experience in the properties and testing of coatings, polymers, or metallurgy.
• Proficiency in processing and analyzing large test datasets using tools like Python, MATLAB, or similar for data acquisition (DAQ).
• Excellent problem-solving, documentation, and communication skills.
• Practical experience in testing for environmental degradation, including accelerated aging, thermal cycling, UV exposure, and corrosion resistance.
• Experience managing external validation projects with commercial laboratories, ensuring compliance with international testing standards.
• Familiarity with data acquisition systems and sensors used for material stress and thermal monitoring.
• General understanding of material performance standards (e.g., ISO, ASTM, or IEC) and how to apply them to validation plans.
• Knowledge of reliability engineering principles, such as FMEA or root cause analysis for material failures.

Why Join AssetCool?

• Work on groundbreaking technology revolutionizing the power grid.
• Fast‑growing startup with significant industry traction and large‑scale projects.
• Collaborative, innovation‑driven team with exciting career growth opportunities.
• Competitive salary, and flexible work options

Research shows that some candidates may hesitate to apply unless they meet every listed requirement. If this role excites you but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification, we still encourage you to apply. You might be exactly who we're looking for, either for this role or another opportunity within our team.

We’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We’re committed to building an inclusive, supportive workplace where everyone can thrive, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

If you have a disability or any specific requirements and need adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, just let us know and we’ll do our best to accommodate your needs.

We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications.

We are not looking for agency support currently.