Development Engineer - Mechatronics and Autonomous Labs for Power2X - DTU Energy

We are looking for an experienced mechatronics engineer interested in APIs and AI to assist in developing and building a self-driving lab that accelerates materials discovery. You will be a part of CAPeX Pioneer Center and DTU Energy, where we research and develop energy conversion devices relevant to the green transition.
DTU Energy and the Pioneer Center for Accelerating P2X Materials Discovery (CAPeX, www.capex-p2x.com) are looking for a development engineer or experienced lab technician for the lab automation team in DTU Energy and CAPeX, which is responsible for the development and implementation of innovative and state-of-the-art automated (robotic) solutions for lab and lab-related processes, enabling and enhancing our R&D and operational processes, in the development of self-driving laboratories for design, development and testing of materials and cells for electrochemical energy conversion and storage, e.g., sustainable batteries and materials for Power2X.

We seek an experienced and skilled mechatronics/robotics engineer to join this innovative team and play a critical role in developing, implementing, and optimizing specialized automated platforms and devices. You will work closely with your lab automation team members, colleagues in CAPeX, and relevant sections at DTU Energy. You collaborate with external specialized engineering companies to reach your goals.

The job
You will be involved in various research and development projects around automating and accelerating the discovery, synthesis, and characterization of new materials for Power2X and sustainable batteries. The work will focus on the automation of the synthesis and characterization of the new materials, where the key focus is accelerating the traditional and manual processes that are slow and cumbersome. Such automation is often achieved by reimagining the standard procedures and techniques to develop more efficient protocols, hardware, and software tuned for high-throughput synthesis and characterization. We aim to develop custom-made hardware using off-the-shelf components and in-house software to achieve automation that is easy to customize and extend as the needs arise. Furthermore, you will be involved in state-of-the-art research projects around developing key materials that enable green transition. There will be plenty of room for you to use your creativity to create unique and powerful solutions that empower current and future generations of scientists to combat climate change. You will work in close collaboration with students, scientists, and lab technicians in the teams of the projects in which you take part.

As a development engineer, you will also set up and commission new equipment and develop APIs. Communication with external suppliers and service agents will also be a part of your work. You will also be responsible for the maintenance of some of our equipment and training others to use the equipment.

Qualifications

• You have an MSc or Ph.D. in Automation Engineering (Robotics, Mechatronics, or related field)
• Experience in machine building, incl. conceptualizing, designing, developing, and implementing robotic/automated systems within a production environment.
• Knowledgeable in analyzing mechanical and electrical designs and suggesting enhancements.

You should further have:

• Excellent communication skills in English, understanding Danish, and being willing to learn.
• Problem-solving skills and an entrepreneurial attitude with a go-to attitude
• Ability to work independently and to plan and carry out complicated tasks.
• Ability to be a part of a dynamical multi-disciplinary department and network with project partners and international collaborators.
• Experienced in one or more of the following areas:
  • Gantry systems, stepper motors & drivers
  • Sensors and applied integration, PCB design, and microcontrollers
  • Python programming, PLC, and Arduino
  • KiCAD and Autodesk Fusion
  • REST API (Application Programming Interface) development
  • Electrochemical devices

Section for Autonomous Materials Discovery The section for Autonomous Materials Discovery focuses on developing methods, tools, and hardware that accelerate the pace of material discovery for energy conversion and storage applications. You will work with around 25 colleagues with diverse backgrounds in computational and experimental science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. We work with our colleagues across the department on various projects related to sustainable energy materials.

The Pioneer Center for Accelerating P2X Materials Discovery The Pioneer Center unites leading Power2X experts from five Danish and three international universities in conducting fundamental strategic research and delivering transformative breakthroughs across scientific disciplines, methods, and sustainable and scalable materials discovery and development. By building upon recent advances in complementary fields like computational materials design, operando characterization, and scalable materials synthesis, as well as autonomous robotics, digital twins, AI, and machine learning, CAPeX will reinvent how we invent new sustainable materials for Power2X.

Salary and appointment terms
The employment is a permanent full-time position (37 hours per week), and it will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The salary will be agreed upon with the relevant union.

The starting date is as soon as possible – according to mutual agreement.

The workplace is DTU Lyngby Campus, North of Copenhagen.

Application and contact
Please submit your online application no later than 1 August 2024. Open the “Apply now” link, fill out the form and attach:

• Your motivated application
• Your CV
• Exam certificates

Please prepare one PDF file containing all this material.

If you would like additional information about the position, please contact the Head of Section and Director of CAPeX, Prof. Tejs Vegge at [email protected]

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

The Department of Energy Conversion and Storage (DTU Energy) focuses on research and development of functional materials, components, and systems for sustainable energy technologies. The technologies include fuel cells, electrolysis, power-to-x, batteries, and carbon capture. The research is based on strong competences on electrochemistry, atomic scale and multi-physics modelling, autonomous materials discovery, materials processing, and structural analyses. We also focus on educating engineering students at all levels, ranging from BSc, MSc, PhD to lifelong learning students. We have about 270 dedicated employees. Read more about us at www.energy.dtu.dk.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.

Adresse:

Fysikvej
2800 Kgs. Lyngby