Process Development Tech Lead (UK)

Additive Industries
Additive Industries is dedicated to bringing metal additive manufacturing for functional parts from lab to fab by offering a modular 3D printing system and seamlessly integrated information platform to high-end and demanding industrial markets. With substantially improved reproducibility, productivity, and flexibility, Additive Industries redefines the business case for additive manufacturing applications in aerospace, automotive, medical technology and high-tech equipment.

Function description
Additive Industries is looking for a Process Development Tech Lead to join our UK Process & Application Development team. Additive Industries successfully launched their industrial metal Additive Manufacturing system, the MetalFAB1. To support our customers, we develop the print process for different materials and new applications, and provide solutions for print process simulation and monitoring.

The role of ‘Process Development Tech Lead’ will provide the technical authority within Additive Industries on all aspects of material performance, from process parameter development through to heat treatment definition, analysis methodology and reporting. You will also own and approve all materials data communicated externally via data sheets or other methods.

In the role you will be a reference point for other members of the Global Process & Application Development teams and as such provide advice and mentoring where appropriate to other team members within the area of process and materials development.

Together with our Senior Process Engineer you will set up test plans for specific materials. You will not only define experimental process tests to perform, but also how the results will be evaluated, including material characteristics and geometric precision. You will then execute these test plans by operating the 3D metal printer to produce samples, then subsequently test samples in accordance to the expected specifications. 

You will analyse the resulting test data, and document all performed tests in a Test Report. Based on the result of the tests you will propose new tests leading to a robust process parameter set.

Furthermore you will discuss possible machine improvements with our design team and help to implement these in our MetalFab1 system, as well as identifying new materials, post processing methods or analysis techniques which may offer opportunity to further improve our customer offering.

The ingredients for a successful performance are in sum:

• Provide technical authority within Additive Industries on all aspects of AM materials and post process.
• Characterization of microstructure, defects and properties of AM materials.
• Establishing material specifications, heat treatment specifications and quality controls for AM materials.
• Establish procedures for powder handling and recycling.
• Establish material post processing techniques, including surface finishing and heat treatment.
• Work with process and application engineers to produce characterization techniques required to support component production.
• Be open to covering a diverse range of tasks, reacting to business demands, within a dynamic working environment and a small, growing team.

Reporting
The Process Development Tech Lead reports to the Global Director Process & Application Development

 Knowledge and experience
Education:

• Bachelor or Master in Material Science, Physics or Mechanical Engineering
• PhD in Metallurgy preferred

Experience/skills:

• Experience with conducting experimental research
• Strong background in process development, verification and validation
• Analytically strong and systematic problem-solving mentality
• Experience in material analysis tooling
• Pragmatic and hands-on mentality
• 5-10 years practical experience with process development
• Knowledge of AS9100 Aerospace and ISO13485 quality standards is a plus

Personality characteristics
Additive Industries is a young and quickly maturing professional organization. We have developed a strong pragmatic team mentality in which we work and experiment together to achieve common goals. We are looking for a wide diversity of people coming from different backgrounds to join our organization. We have formulated the following personal traits contributing to our professional mentality:

• Open, confident and result driven
• Driven by technical challenges, eager to learn and entrepreneurial
• Proven Team player who takes ownership
• Professional and structured
• ‘Fun to work with’

Acquisition by agencies is not appreciated.