Senior Electrical Machines Engineer

Description

CGEN Engineering Ltd is seeking a Senior Electrical Machines Engineer to support the development of its high-torque, low-speed generator and motor technologies.

CGEN is a University of Edinburgh spin-out developing new electrical-machine technologies for renewable energy and emerging marine applications. Our initial commercial focus is the wind industry, with a beachhead in life extension and repowering projects for existing direct-drive turbines.

Our core modular permanent magnet generator technology is intended to improve how large electrical machines are designed, manufactured, transported, maintained and repaired. Beyond this core product, CGEN aims to develop a wider portfolio of generator and motor topologies for applications where efficiency, maintainability, scalability and low-speed operation are critical.

We are a small, growing start-up with an ambitious technical roadmap, active commercial and grant-funded projects, and plans to raise further investment as we move towards larger-scale manufacture and multi-MW field-trial activity.

The role will focus on electromagnetic design, modelling, machine performance and validation. The successful candidate will take ownership of defined technical work packages while working closely with CGEN’s Technical Director, wider engineering team and external partners.

This is an opportunity to join CGEN at an early stage and contribute directly to the development of new generator and motor technologies for wind, hydro, wave, tidal and potential marine-propulsion applications.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support the electromagnetic design and optimisation of modular permanent magnet generators and motors.
• Develop analytical and numerical models for low-speed, high-torque electrical machines.
• Use FEMM, Opera, Ansys Maxwell or equivalent tools for electromagnetic simulation, optimisation and design assessment.
• Develop winding configurations, phase arrangements, conductor sizing and wider electrical-machine architecture.
• Assess generator and motor performance, including losses, voltage, current, efficiency, electromagnetic loading and thermal inputs.
• Compare model predictions with test data and improve CGEN’s analytical and numerical design methods.
• Support the standardisation and formalisation of CGEN’s electrical-machine design process.
• Contribute to designs for wind turbine life extension and repowering within existing nacelle, structural and system constraints.
• Support customer feasibility studies, design reports, technical presentations and design reviews.
• Work with mechanical, thermal, controls and manufacturing colleagues to develop practical and manufacturable machine designs.
• Contribute to certification, compliance, technical risk assessment and design-assurance activities.
• Align machine designs with manufacturing, testing, commissioning and future field-trial requirements.
• Support manufacture, assembly, testing and commissioning where electrical-machine input is required.
• Provide guidance and technical review to less experienced engineers where appropriate.
• Take ownership of agreed technical work packages and communicate progress, decisions and risks clearly.

The role will be based in Edinburgh with hybrid working available. Regular attendance at CGEN’s office, laboratory, workshop and partner facilities will be required.

UK and occasional international travel may be required for customer meetings, project reviews, supplier visits, testing, commissioning and conferences.

The expected start date is September to October 2026.

Essential

• Degree in electrical engineering, electrical machines, power engineering or a closely related discipline.
• At least five years’ relevant industrial experience in electrical-machine design, modelling, development or performance analysis.
• Demonstrable experience with permanent magnet machines, generators, motors or comparable electromagnetic systems.
• Experience using finite-element and analytical modelling tools for electrical machines.
• Strong understanding of windings, magnetic circuits, electromagnetic loading, machine losses and electrical-machine performance.
• Ability to develop and assess winding configurations, conductor sizing and electrical architectures.
• Experience preparing clear calculations, technical reports, design documentation and review material.
• Ability to take ownership of technical work packages and make well-supported engineering decisions.
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary engineering team.
• Confidence communicating technical work with colleagues, customers, suppliers and project partners.
• Ability to balance technical performance with manufacturability, cost, schedule and wider project constraints.
• Existing right to work in the UK.

CGEN is currently unable to provide visa sponsorship.

Useful but not essential

• Experience with axial-flux or air-cored permanent magnet machines.
• Experience with low-speed, high-torque generators or motors.
• Experience in wind, hydro, wave, tidal, marine, automotive or industrial power systems.
• Experience designing generators within existing turbine, nacelle or drivetrain constraints.
• Experience with Python, MATLAB or other engineering automation tools.
• Experience developing optimisation methods or automated electrical-machine design workflows.
• Experience validating analytical or numerical models against test data.
• Knowledge of thermal, mechanical, power-electronics or control-system interfaces.
• Experience supporting manufacture, assembly, laboratory testing or field commissioning.
• Experience contributing to certification, compliance or formal design-assurance activity.
• Experience mentoring, supervising or technically reviewing the work of less experienced engineers.

Power electronics and controls experience would be useful but is not a prerequisite for the role.

Personal qualities

• Technically rigorous, curious and willing to challenge assumptions.
• Practical and comfortable contributing across modelling, detailed design, testing and delivery.
• Able to work independently while collaborating closely with experienced technical leads and multidisciplinary colleagues.
• Clear and credible when discussing technical work with customers and partners.
• Comfortable working in a growing company where systems and processes are continuing to develop.
• Motivated by the opportunity to take ownership, develop new technology and grow with an early-stage engineering business.

• Salary of £65,000–£75,000 depending on experience
• Pension plan, with company contribution from 4% up to 9%.
• Hybrid working and work-from-home flexibility.
• Training and development.
• Stock option plan, subject to company scheme and eligibility.
• Full-time role, with flexibility to consider a four-day working week.
• Opportunities to lead major technical work packages as CGEN grows.
• Direct involvement in the design, manufacture, testing and field demonstration of new multi-MW generator and motor technologies.