Materials & Innovation Technician - Innovation

Materials & Innovation Technician (Innovation), Oxford. 

YASA, in partnership with Mercedes Benz, are leading the way in EV Motor Revolution with YASA Axial Flux Technology. Our motor is 4 times more powerful than the current technology used in all Electric Vehicles, as well as being 50% lighter and half the size. YASA was founded in 2009 on the belief that small, powerful, and efficient electric motors would play an increasingly important role in meeting the strict emissions targets being set by policymakers globally. 

We now supply a number of world-leading OEMs in the automotive industry with innovative powertrain solutions based on our axial-flux electric motors and controllers. 

YASA’s culture, technology, and market opportunity attracts world-class talent. We are always looking for motivated people who enjoy the challenges and opportunities of working in a fast-growing company and who possess a strong ‘can-do’ attitude as part of a close team. 

"The innovation team is a group of focussed, high-performing, and motivated individuals concentrating on rapid technology development and problem-solving. We work quickly and efficiently on defining new opportunities to test them as early as possible to find the limits of new ideas and solutions to design, process, and materials challenges. When building new parts or motors to test we look to 'fail fast & learn quickly!'. If you believe you fit the mould, we'd love to have you in our teams" Tim Woolmer (CTO) & Simon Odling (Chief of New Technology)

The role: 

Working within the New Technology team, and reporting to the Lead Materials Specialist or Senior Materials Engineer. The Materials & Innovation Technician will be working on cutting-edge R&D projects as well as supporting the creation and development of new ideas to ensure that YASA technology remains at the cutting edge of what is possible with an electric motor with respect to size, weight, performance, and cost. The role will have a dynamic workload and will suit an individual who has a keen interest in technology, and who is willing to work in a fast-paced environment. They will collaborate with the team to develop new technologies, provide support on investigations, and carry out other ad hoc R&D activities. 

Key responsibilities will include: 

• Carrying out novel and new tests and procedures on new materials and reporting their outcomes. 
• Conducting scientific tests on a range of different materials using laboratory equipment by following defined instructions. 
• Carrying out metallographic work. 
• Carrying out mechanical testing. 
• Carrying out metrology work on materials used in electric motors
• Helping to maintain clean, tidy, and well-stocked laboratories. 
• Preparing summaries and reports of work carried out by the material engineering team. 

Skills and Experience required: 

 Essential: 

• Strong mathematical and scientific education examination results (GCSEs and A-Levels). 
• Good attention to detail. 
• Drive to learn new skills and understand new technologies. 
• Collaborative, can-do attitude. 
• Good verbal and written communication skills. 

Desirable: 

• Degree or other higher education in a mathematical, scientific, or practical topic. 
• Previous experience working in a relevant laboratory or R&D environment. 
• Basic understanding of electrical machines and power electronic controllers. 

• Experience in the use of any of the following techniques or equipment: Metallography, light or electron microscopy, mechanical testing, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), coordinate measurement machine (CMM), general machine shop equipment. 
• Experience working with any of the following: Adhesive bonding, composites manufacturing, brazing or soldering, welding, heat treatments, metallurgy. 

Benefits: 

• Discretionary bonus / 28 days’ holiday / Pension scheme / Private medical plan with Bupa and 4 x death in service / Company lease car scheme / Other benefits include a cycle-to-work scheme, flexible working hours, and monthly social activities.