Mechanical Engineer (Contractor)

Octopus Energy's R&D team in Slough is developing the next generation of heat pump systems and hydraulic products that surround them. We're looking for a hands-on R&D Engineer to join the team on a contract basis to help design, build, test and iterate hardware that works alongside heat pumps.
This is a practical, workshop-floor role as much as a design one. You won't just specify components - you'll be plumbing rigs, commissioning systems, instrumenting test loops and getting real data out of real hardware. We need someone who is equally comfortable with a CAD model, a P&ID and a pipe wrench.
If you like the idea of taking a concept from a sketch to a working prototype on a test rig within weeks, this is the role.

What you'll do

• Design, build and commission hydraulic test rigs and prototype products that integrate with heat pumps (buffer tanks, hot water cylinders, heat exchangers, circulation and modulation hardware, and similar).


• Carry out hands-on assembly and plumbing of water-side and refrigerant-adjacent systems - pipework, fittings, pumps, valves, sensors and controls.


• Instrument rigs with temperature, flow and pressure measurement, and run structured test campaigns to characterise both systems and components performance.


• Diagnose and troubleshoot hydraulic, thermal and mechanical issues on live systems, and feed findings back into the design.


• Work closely with the wider R&D team to iterate designs quickly, balancing performance, cost, manufacturability and serviceability.


• Produce clear documentation: test plans, build instructions, results write-ups and design records.

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering (or a closely related discipline).


• Minimum 5 years' relevant experience in an R&D, product development or test environment.


• Demonstrable heat pump knowledge - you understand how heat pumps work, their operating envelopes, and how the hydraulic system around them behaves (flow, temperature, ΔT, defrost, modulation, etc.).


• Strong hands-on experience - this is the most important requirement. You can build, plumb, commission and fault-find systems yourself, not just specify them. Practical plumbing and pipework skills are essential.


• Experience working with hydraulic systems - pumps, valves, heat exchangers, tanks, pipework and the behaviour of water-side circuits.


• Comfortable instrumenting rigs and interpreting test data to draw engineering conclusions.


• CAD proficiency for designing rig components and prototype parts.


• Able to work independently and using own initiative on-site in Slough and move quickly in a fast-paced R&D environment.

• Experience developing products specifically intended to operate with heat pumps (buffer tanks, hot water cylinders, DHW modules, hydraulic interface units, etc.).


• Familiarity with refrigerant-side systems and relevant safety considerations.


• Thermal/fluids analysis skills (thermodynamic modelling, or sizing calculations) to support design decisions.


• Experience in setting up, running, and interpreting FEA (structural/thermal) and CFD analyses on complex systems.


• Relevant trade or industry qualifications (e.g. plumbing, F-Gas, G3 unvented hot water) - not required but valued.


• Experience taking products through prototype into early manufacture.

• A genuinely hands-on R&D role at the leading edge of UK heat pump accessory product development.


• A well-equipped facility and the freedom to build and test real hardware.


• A collaborative team that moves fast and values practical engineering judgement.


• Competitive contract day rate, commensurate with experience.


• Octopus Energy is a unique culture. An organisation where people learn, decide, and build quicker. Where people work with autonomy, alongside a wide range of amazing co-owners, on projects that break new ground. We want your hard work to be rewarded with perks you actually care about!


• Visit our perks hub - Octopus Employee Benefits

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