Manufacturing Design Engineer (KTP Associate)

The main project activities will include:

• Introduction to the business and university project team including familiarisation of the technology and current product.

• In conjunction with WF personnel, monitor existing MECs to assess potential failure points and performance characteristics.

• Work with engineers at Wastewater Fuels to improve the design of current prototype to Technology Readiness Level 9.

• Define specific manufacturing requirements, identify necessary processes, standard equipment, and high-risk manufacturing challenges.

• Develop a manufacturing process for an individual subassembly and then the full MEC.

• Work closely with external suppliers to develop their capability to manufacture unique components, provide bespoke assembly cells and implement the installation of a state of the art production facility.

• Hand-build cells with engineers to demonstrate TRL 9 MEC cell capability at scale and monitor performance to ensure compliance with design parameters in commercial conditions.

• Design a manufacturing line to achieve desired capacities by defining machine specifications, determining storage requirements, and optimising space utilisation through 2D and 3D layouts and simulations.

• Establish the manufacturing line at Wastewater Fuels for low-volume production

• Create a comprehensive process documentation pack including machine specifications for a high-volume production line strongly considering automation potential

• Maintain constant communication with WF and WMG University staff and the project team to plan, execute and manage KTP related activities.

• Responsible for establishing dissemination channels and methods (e.g. training courses, dissemination events and presentation, discussion forums, training material, detailed project documentation) in order to ensure an effective knowledge transfer to the stakeholders at Wastewater Fuels.

• Define a personal development plan with the help of WF and WMG University staff, and attend all necessary KTP related courses, events, management and reporting meetings as and when necessary.

• Specific training to complete the project will be identified and facilitated as required during the duration of the KTP project.

Working with Wastewater Fuels (WF), the Associate will lead the development and establishment of a manufacturing line for their Microbial Electrolysis Cells (MECs).

The Associate will be responsible for the delivery of an Innovate UK awarded KTP between WMG & WF to set up manufacturing and assembly of this innovative product that treats wastewater, generates electricity and generates hydrogen, ultimately reducing the carbon impact of wastewater treatment facilities.

The impetus for this Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) between Wastewater Fuels and the University of Warwick follows on from a series of successful collaborations and reflects Wastewater Fuels’s ongoing investment in research and development. This KTP aims to develop an existing manual manufacturing process to improve it by designing, modelling, and constructing a mass production assembly operation; to de-risk the next-stage investment for an innovative wastewater treatment product, and securing a place as a global leader in the market.