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Senior R&D Engineer / R&D Manager

Vacancy closed

Senior R&D Engineer / R&D Manager

BlueHeart Energy Heemskerk

What is required?

  • MSc. / Preference Phd in the direction of Physics, Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering
  • At least 10 years’ relevant work experience
  • Good command of the English language, both verbally and in writing
  • Good R&D management skills and being able to guide junior R&D colleagues
  • Senior R&D level in thermodynamics, thermal fluids and materials (combination of rubbers and metals) and hardware development
  • Knowledge of and experience with testing and modeling (including Comsol, Matlab and Phyton)
  • Able and willing to work in a start-up environment, goal oriented and good adaptability

What will you get?

  • €4.500 - €7.000 gross p/m (depending on knowledge and experience)
  • 40-hour working week
  • 25 days holiday
  • Training opportunities
  • Company Phantom shares, laptop and SIM card EU+USA
  • Pension scheme

What will you do?

  • 40% Managing the team
  • 20% Reviewing analyses and reports of team members
  • 20% Meetings with partners and suppliers
  • 20% Facilitating and planning test work
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Vacancy

As a Senior R&D Engineer / R&D Manager, you will lead BlueHeart Energy's Research & Development team. You provide technical support for the development and analysis of mechanical and thermal systems, and hardware development.

You are a mentor for the Junior Engineers in the team and together with the entire team you deal with technical issues and planning the development of new methods and hardware. In this position, you also have a coaching role, and ask critical questions when necessary about your team members’ working methods. You help them think about making all processes as efficient as possible. You also work together with the Lab Supervisor to coordinate agreements on test plans, test implementations and test environments.

You manage the Research & Development team, consisting of four Mechanical Engineers, a Technician, a Physicist and the Lab supervisor. The team includes people of different nationalities, so English is the main language.

If you enjoy having a coaching role in a dynamic work environment and find it challenging to prioritise your tasks well in a company where there is still a lot of innovation going on, then this is a job for you.

Working week

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Senior R&D Engineer / R&D Manager

On an enjoyable working day, you guide the team in making the final decision for a fundamental technical change in the process. This gives you a lot of energy!

On a less enjoyable day, you spend a lot of time watching other people's work, so you have relatively little chance to do your own work.

  • 08:00
  • 09:00
  • 10:00
  • 11:00
  • 12:00
  • 13:00
  • 14:00
  • 15:00
  • 16:00
  • 17:00
  • 18:00
    • Reading and answering emails
    • Reviewing analyses of team members
    • Lunch
    • Daily Scrum Stand-up
    • Meeting with Mechanical Engineer
    • Supplier meeting
    • Meeting with Lab Supervisor
    • Planning test work
    • Daily Scrum Stand-up
    • Meeting with Management team
    • Meeting with Mechanical Engineer
    • Thinking along with technical issues
    • Meeting with Junior Engineer
    • Performing tests
    • Preparing a technical report
    • Lunch
    • Daily Scrum Stand-up
    • Meeting with Technician
    • Supplier meeting
    • Reading and answering emails
    • Meeting with Management team
    • Reviewing analyses of team members
    • Meeting with Mechanical Engineer
    • Lunch
    • Daily Scrum Stand-up
    • Reviewing technical reports of team members
    • Drinks with the company
    • Reading and answering emails
    • Meeting with Lab Supervisor
    • Thinking along with technical issues
    • Planning test work
    • Lunch
    • Daily Scrum Stand-up
    • Meeting with Mechanical Engineer
    • Reviewing analyses of team members
    • Product backlog refinement
    • Thinking along with technical issues
    • Performing tests
    • Preparing a technical report

Firsthand experience

One of the employees on your team gets a request to do an analysis for another team and, as a result, loses track of their schedule. What do you do?

Sometimes team members struggle with their planning. For example, because a member from another team requests something and it is difficult to assess whether this request is more important than the things going on in their own team. In your role as Senior R&D Engineer/ R&D Manager, you have more insight in what is going on organisation-wide and where the priorities lie, which usually allows you to coach your team members well in their planning.

During the weekly team meetings, you discuss what the top two or three priorities are for that week, so you are aware of what is happening within your own team. If necessary, you consult the other team to get a more complete picture of when they need the analysis. You then know how this task should be scheduled in relation to the others and whether you need to shift other things for this.

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.

Senior R&D Engineer / R&D Manager

Working at BlueHeart Energy

BlueHeart Energy was founded in 2016 to apply thermoacoustics as a technology in heat pumps and other applications as a replacement of compression technology. 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 and airco systems in residential buildings and other (industrial) applications. This so called 'Blue Heart' of a heat pump is sold to manufacturers. We are continuous improving the 'Blue Heart' with new developed and optimizations. As well we will develop different products over time. Besides this, we will set up our production facility, strengthen the relationships with our customers (OEM's and ODM's) and set up pilot projects in houses and other (industrial) applications and monitor these.

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

Colleagues

Photo of employee Alireza
Photo of employee Michiel Hartman
Photo of employee Haico Halbesma
Photo of employee Roel Verhagen
Photo of employee Dick
Photo of employee Michelle
Photo of employee Jan
Photo of employee Luke
Photo of employee Shakthi
Photo of employee Casper
Photo of employee 	 Nico

Alireza (29) - 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 Heart 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 (53) - 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).

Haico Halbesma (54) - 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.

Roel Verhagen (44) - 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.

Dick (30) - Test engineer - Electronics, Software, Control and Testing

Why did you decide to work for this company?
I found it appealing to work for a start-up that is tackling a technologically challenging problem. Additionally, the company brings together people from diverse cultures and nationalities, which also attracted me.

What was your previous job?
Assistant project manager at Vattenfall

What do you do in your spare time?
Training for the triathlon, playing the piano, and meeting up with friends.

Michelle (31) - Lead operations - Pilot line assembly

Why did you decide to work for this company?
The technical industry has always interested me, even though my background is not in engineering. Blue Heart offers me the opportunity to grow within this industry. I also enjoy working in a start-up environment, where I can take on multiple responsibilities and tasks.

What was your previous job?
Glassblower and heritage specialist

What do you do in your spare time?
Making art

Jan (56) - Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Why did you decide to work for this company?
At a startup like Blue Heart, you get the opportunity to find solutions for new challenges.

What was your previous job?
Engineering Manager

What do you do in your spare time?
Ice skating, golfing and biking

Luke (33) - Electromechanical Technician

Why did you decide to work for this company?
I chose to work at Blue Heart Energy because I wanted to be part of a fast-paced startup where my technical skills directly contribute to groundbreaking innovations in sustainable technology. The hands-on nature of the Electromechanical Technician role allows me to build, troubleshoot, and improve cutting-edge systems while collaborating closely with passionate and skilled colleagues. Most importantly, I feel a strong sense of purpose knowing that my work helps advance clean energy solutions for a better future.

What was your previous job?
Entrepeneur

What do you do in your spare time?
Go running and drinking beers with friends after running!

Shakthi (24) - Test Engineer - R&D Department

Why did you decide to work for this company?
The thermoacoustic heat pump idea was so fascinating to me when I heard about it and I was amazed by its potential and was excited to understand and help solve the challenges. Also I've always wanted to contribute to a more sustainable future and working at this company allows me to do that.

What was your previous job?
nvt

What do you do in your spare time?
Crocheting, reading, trying something new

Casper - Embedded Engineer

Why did you decide to work for this company?
Innovative company with a pleasant work environment. Feels good to further the cause of next generation HVAC technology.

What was your previous job?
Embedded engineer RR Mechatronics

What do you do in your spare time?
Guitar, music, meditation, gaming, watching shows.

Nico (35) - I work for the testing team as an electromechanical technician

Why did you decide to work for this company?
First, the name caught my attention. After that I realised that the intention, the mission of the company was pretty interesting and the ways to achieve such goal were aligned with sustainability and design.

What was your previous job?
I worked as engineer at DTU Nanolab

What do you do in your spare time?
Climb, dance, yoga, travels, gatherings, outdoor activities.

Application process

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

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