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Mechanical Engineer / Lead Designer

Mechanical Engineer / Lead Designer

BlueHeart Energy Alkmaar

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What is required?

  • Completed MSc in Mechanical Engineering / Industrial Design Engineering or equivalent
  • Minimum of 5 years relevant work experience in mechanical design of complex products for series and/or mass production
  • Experience in planning and detailing a design process for a product design
  • Experience in guiding a team through the various design stages
  • Good communication skills
  • Able to work both independently as well as in a team
  • Creative and capable of optimizing the design for the chosen production techniques
  • Good command of the Dutch and English language, both verbally and in writing

What will you get?

  • €4,000 - €6,000 gross p/m (depending on knowledge and experience)
  • 40-hour working week
  • 25 vacation days
  • Training opportunities
  • Company Phantom shares, laptop and SIM card EU+USA
  • Pension scheme

What will you do?

  • 50% Designing and validating concepts and solutions for the total design of the thermo-acoustic core for the heat pump
  • 20% Coordinating design and drafting work and leading/organizing review meetings
  • 15% Aligning project requirements and component specifications with the team
  • 15% Documenting, summarizing, and explaining outcomes

This vacancy has been created based on interviews with employees to help you get a realistic preview of the job.

Ask a question directly

Vacancy

As a Mechanical Engineer / Lead Designer at BlueHeart Energy, you are responsible for the total design of the thermo-acoustic core of our clients' new innovative heat pump. You lead the complete design process, from system-level design to detailed design to production-ready design. You create the entire design using 3D CAD programs (SolidWorks), ensuring that each individual component fits seamlessly within the design. This includes considering the functional requirements, manufacturability of the components (production technique, tolerances, etc.), attention to both the assembly and electrical aspects, and legal standards. You work closely with other Mechanical Engineers to refine each component or detail of the design. You also collaborate with the R&D team focused on testing and optimizing the thermo-acoustics, translating these insights into an improved product design.

You specifically oversee the planning and management of the design and drafting, supervising the components designed by the other Engineers in the team. This involves leading design review meetings to identify and address any shortcomings in the overall design early on. You also consider how the total design can be optimized, ensuring that the final designs are validated and the drawings are ready for the production phase of the thermo-acoustic core of the heat pump.

You are part of the Engineering team, which includes several Mechanical/Project Engineers and a Project Manager Product Development. Together, you ensure that each part of the heat pump integrates seamlessly into the overall design.

If you enjoy developing the optimal total design in good coordination between different parties and find it challenging that this process is iterative due to constantly changing requirements, then this is the job for you.

Working week

Mechanical Engineer / Lead Designer

On an enjoyable day, you work out various concepts as a solution to a design problem and share these with your team members for assessment. Together, you try to come up with an optimal design!

On a less enjoyable workday, you discover too late that a certain specification is not feasible, requiring a thorough revision of the entire design.

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Firsthand experience

During a review meeting, you discover that the designed support structure is favorable for mechanical assembly but has a detrimental impact on the acoustic and thermal behavior. What do you do?

You initiate a discussion with the Mechanical Engineer, who is responsible for the mechanical analysis, to gain a better understanding and quantify the problem. After identifying the cause, you develop new concepts and go through an iterative process to find a suitable solution. This process requires using your creativity and technical knowledge to optimize the design.

Growth

The career growth path at Blue Heart Energy is not fixed. The company expects to grow fast in the coming years, generating opportunities for all those who are ready to assume new responsibilities. BHE supports training and courses, and sharing knowledge is very important among employees. The main advantage of the start up and scale up phase is that self-initiative is really appreciated, and you can create your own job. As Blue Heart Energy grows, you grow along with them.

Mechanical Engineer / Lead Designer

Working at BlueHeart Energy

BlueHeart Energy was founded in 2016 to apply thermoacoustics as a technology in heat pumps. Thermoacoustics is a disruptive approach to generate heat and cold, with potential to revolutionize the whole industry. Over the past seven years, BHE has developed a thermoacoustic engine to power heat pumps in residential buildings. This so called 'Blue Heart' of a heat pump is sold to manufacturers. In the coming years, the 'Blue Heart' will have to be further developed and optimized. Besides this, we will set up our production facility, strengthen the relationships with our customers (Manufacturers of heat pumps) and set up pilot projects in houses and monitor these.

  • Headquarters in Alkmaar
  • 33 employees
  • Active in more than 10 countries
  • 20% / 80%
  • Average age 38 years
  • Casual
  • Hybrid working

Colleagues

Alireza Moradi (28) - Project engineer in R&D department

Why did you decide to work for this company?
Before this, I studied thermoacoustics during my master and PhD program and I was always eager to combine thermoacoustics with an environmentally friendly system. I came across Blue Hear energy's website during my research period and I was an immediate fan. When Michiel pitched all his ideas to me, I only thought about one thing:when can I start?

What was your previous job?
Before joining Blue Heart Energy company, I was busy with PhD program at Tarbiat Modares University besides doing some research for aerospace institute.

What do you do in your spare time?
Playing football, inline skating and of course still working on PhD.

Michiel Hartman (52) - CEO

Why did you decide to work for this company?
I founded Blue Heart because sustainable heating and cooling is one of the biggest challenges in the energy transition. Thermoacoustics is one of the game changers to make this possible. A complex technique with great impact which requires a great team with various specialties. Building Blue Heart on all these aspects is my big motivator.

What was your previous job?
Founder of QWIC electric bicycles and president of the Branch Association of Electric Transport. I was also temporary Project Manager of large heat projects in The Netherlands.

What do you do in your spare time?
Tennis, skiing, family, outdoor sports (workouts and water sports).

Myrthe Kuijf (27) - Research Engineer

Why did you decide to work for this company?
I started working at BlueHeart through my traineeship at Talent for Transition. I studied technical physics and I want to use my knowledge to contribute to the energy transition. At BlueHeart, I have the opportunity to do this as part of a team.

What did you study?
Student Technical Physics

What do you do in your spare time?
Reading and propagating plants

Roelof Schuitema (49) - Technical Sales Manager

Why did you decide to work for this company?
I was involved in multiple renewable energy projects including Blue Heart Energy's heat pump. When the project spun off into a startup, I seized the opportunity to work full time at Blue Heart. My work brings innovation, development and the application of sustainable technology together, with the entire company operating as a team. That's the ideal working environment for me, and that's what makes working at Blue Heart so great.

What was your previous job?
Operationeel manager at Teamwork Technology.

What do you do in your spare time?
Hiking, camping en spending time with my kids.

Haico Halbesma (53) - Chief Financial Officer

Why did you decide to work for this company?
Blue Heart's Energy goal to green the built environment in terms of heating and cooling appealed to me greatly. This combined with the opportunity to work with a multidisciplinary team on the complex challenge of applying this clean solution widely, bringing it to the market on a large scale and getting it produced in the Netherlands.

What was your previous job?
Director.

What do you do in your spare time?
Sailing.

Adam Zeman (24) - R&D Intern

Why did you decide to work for this company?
I was introduced to the field of thermoacoustic during one of the university lectures and got instantly hooked. Since we were required to do a mandatory internship as a part of our studies, I instantly knew where to look. Blue Heart Energy was the company that caught my attention from the very beginning due to the range of possible hands-on topics that I could work on.

What was your previous job?
Mechanical Trainee

What do you do in your spare time?
Sports (fencing, climbing, ...), Reading, Board Games

Roel Verhagen (43) - Lead Designer

Why did you decide to work for this company?
I chose to work at Blue Heart Energy because I sought to make a tangible impact in my work. The company's startup environment provides an opportunity to contribute to the development of a truly innovative product at the intersection of science, product development, and mass production. Working in a diverse team where roles are flexible keeps the work engaging and dynamic.

What was your previous job?
Product Developer

What do you do in your spare time?
I enjoy engaging in active activities with my children, as well as attending festivals, independent films, and theater performances.

Application process

First interview (by phone)
Personal interview + requirements
Deepdive on knowledge
You've got the job!

Interesting job?

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