MechanicalEngineer(Contractor)

## Description 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. ## Essential requirements 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, et