CGEN Engineering Ltd is seeking a Senior Electro-mechanical Design Engineer to support the mechanical design, physical integration, manufacture and validation of its high-torque, low-speed generator and motor technologies.
CGEN is a University of Edinburgh spin-out developing new electrical-machine technologies for renewable energy and emerging marine applications. Our initial commercial focus is the wind industry, with a beachhead in life extension and repowering projects for existing direct-drive turbines.
Our core modular permanent magnet generator technology is intended to improve how large electrical machines are designed, manufactured, transported, maintained and repaired. Beyond this core product, CGEN aims to develop a wider portfolio of generator and motor topologies for applications where efficiency, maintainability, scalability and low-speed operation are critical.
We are a small, growing start-up with an ambitious technical roadmap, active commercial and grant-funded projects, and plans to raise further investment as we move towards larger-scale manufacturing and multi-MW field-trial activity.
The role will focus on practical mechanical design, 3D CAD, tolerancing, design for manufacture and assembly, supplier engagement and the integration of rotating electrical machines. The successful candidate will take ownership of defined design work packages while working closely with CGEN’s Manufacturing Director, Technical Director, wider engineering team and external manufacturing partners.
The immediate work will include supporting current commercial and grant-funded projects, developing generator designs within existing turbine and nacelle constraints for wind life-extension applications, helping standardise CGEN’s mechanical design processes, and aligning machine designs with manufacture, certification, compliance and future multi-MW field trials.
This is a senior, hands-on role for someone who can contribute directly to detailed design and delivery, make well-supported engineering decisions, work constructively with suppliers and provide guidance to less experienced engineers.
Responsibilities
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Lead and support the mechanical design and physical integration of modular generator and motor assemblies.
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Create and maintain 3D CAD models, assemblies, manufacturing drawings, bills of materials and technical specifications.
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Develop rotor, stator, bearing, support-frame, housing and wider machine-interface designs.
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Carry out tolerance, fit, clearance, datum and assembly assessments for large electro-mechanical systems.
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Apply design-for-manufacture and design-for-assembly principles to generator and motor components and systems.
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Develop mechanical designs within existing turbine, nacelle, drivetrain and site constraints for wind life-extension and repowering projects.
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Work with suppliers and manufacturing partners to assess manufacturing routes, quotations, constraints and proposed design changes.
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Support material, manufacturing-process and component selection, including consideration of cost, quality, maintainability and supply risk.
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Prepare assembly procedures, inspection requirements, build documentation and controlled technical records.
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Work with electrical, thermal, controls and manufacturing colleagues to ensure mechanical designs support electromagnetic, thermal and system requirements.
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Support the standardisation and formalisation of CGEN’s mechanical design, drawing and design-review processes.
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Contribute to certification, compliance, design assurance, technical risk assessment and internal engineering standards.
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Align machine designs with scalable manufacture, prototype builds, testing, commissioning and future multi-MW field-trial requirements.
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Support prototype assembly, test-rig integration, commissioning, fault investigation and design updates following manufacturing or test feedback.
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Take ownership of agreed design work packages and communicate progress, decisions, assumptions and risks clearly.
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Provide technical review, guidance and mentoring to less experienced engineers where appropriate.
The role will be based in Edinburgh with hybrid working available. Regular attendance at CGEN’s office, laboratory, workshop and partner facilities will be required.
UK and occasional international travel may be required for customer meetings, project reviews, supplier visits, manufacturing, testing, commissioning and conferences.
Requirements
Essential
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Degree or equivalent higher-level qualification in mechanical engineering, electro-mechanical engineering, product design engineering or a closely related discipline.
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At least five years’ relevant industrial experience in mechanical or electro-mechanical design, product development or engineering delivery.
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Demonstrable experience designing complex mechanical products, rotating machinery, generators, motors or comparable engineered systems.
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Strong 3D CAD and engineering drawing capability.
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Strong understanding of tolerancing, fits, clearances, datum structures, interfaces and practical assembly constraints.
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Experience applying design-for-manufacture and design-for-assembly principles.
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Experience taking designs from concept through detailed design, manufacture, assembly or testing.
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Ability to carry out or review appropriate mechanical calculations and make well-supported design decisions.
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Experience working directly with suppliers, manufacturing partners and multidisciplinary engineering teams.
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Experience preparing clear calculations, drawings, specifications, technical reports and design-review records.
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Ability to take ownership of technical work packages and balance engineering quality with cost, schedule and supplier constraints.
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Confidence communicating technical work with colleagues, customers, suppliers and project partners.
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Existing right to work in the UK.
CGEN is currently unable to provide visa sponsorship.
Useful but not essential
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Experience with generators, motors, rotating machinery or other large electro-mechanical systems.
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Experience with low-speed, high-torque equipment.
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Experience with bearing systems, support structures, fabricated assemblies, housings or large mechanical interfaces.
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Experience with structural calculations, finite-element analysis, fatigue, vibration or thermal expansion.
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Experience in wind, hydro, wave, tidal, marine, automotive or industrial machinery.
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Experience designing equipment within existing nacelle, drivetrain, vessel or site-envelope constraints.
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Experience developing assembly tooling, lifting arrangements, inspection methods or installation procedures.
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Experience supporting prototype builds, laboratory testing, field commissioning or root-cause investigations.
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Experience contributing to certification, compliance, quality systems or formal design-assurance activity.
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Experience mentoring, supervising or technically reviewing the work of less experienced engineers.
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Chartered Engineer status, active progress towards professional registration, or a relevant postgraduate qualification.
Personal qualities
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Practical, hands-on and commercially aware.
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Comfortable working across detailed design, manufacture, assembly and testing.
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Able to identify design weaknesses and propose practical improvements.
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Willing to engage directly with suppliers, technicians and workshop teams.
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Able to work independently while collaborating closely with technical leads and multidisciplinary colleagues.
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Clear and credible when discussing technical work with customers and partners.
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Able to bring structure to complex design work and communicate uncertainty honestly.
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Motivated by the opportunity to take ownership, develop new technology and grow with an early-stage engineering company.
Benefits
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Salary of £65,000–£75,000 depending on experience
- Pension plan, with company contribution from 4% up to 9%.
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Hybrid working and work-from-home flexibility.
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Training and development.
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Stock option plan, subject to company scheme and eligibility.
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Full-time role, with flexibility to consider a four-day working week.
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Opportunities to lead major technical work packages as CGEN grows.
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Direct involvement in the design, manufacture, testing and field demonstration of new multi-MW generator and motor technologies.
