Location: Quainton, Buckinghamshire (on-site).
Type: Full‑time.
Experience: 3+ years in industrial/robotics integration and mechatronic system design.
Reports to: Chief Engineer (no line management responsibilities).
About Us
VIKASO LTD is a UK‑based start‑up specialising in the development and implementation of robot solutions. Our technologies enhance efficiency and productivity in manufacturing, and our team of mechatronics engineers delivers robust, easy‑to‑use solutions that make robot adoption easier and faster.
Role overview
You will act as the technical lead on assigned projects - owning engineering and design decisions, establishing and enforcing design standards, and safeguarding the technical quality of deliverables. You won’t manage a team; instead, you’ll serve as the design authority, mentoring engineers in best practices and ensuring solutions are simple to deploy, reliable to operate, and fast to commission - directly supporting VIKASO’s mission to accelerate robot adoption.
Key responsibilities
Technical leadership & design authority
* Own end‑to‑end technical decisions for assigned projects (mechanical, electrical, controls, and robot programming) and document the rationale.
* Define, publish, and maintain engineering design standards (templates, naming conventions, libraries, safety patterns) and ensure they are applied consistently.
* Lead technical reviews (requirements, architecture, design, safety, and code reviews) and grant design approvals/sign‑offs.
* Anticipate risks; run FMEA/risk assessments; steer mitigations early.
Design & development
* Design and develop robot applications in CAD; produce mechanical designs, layouts, and simulation models to validate feasibility and cycle times.
* Create virtual simulations and offline programs; validate reach, collisions, and cycle performance.
* Electrical design of robot applications: component selection, safety circuits, power distribution, control panels, and field wiring.
* Program industrial devices (PLCs, safety scanners, vision systems, sensors); integrate robots with cells and upstream/downstream equipment.
* Develop and maintain reusable motion/IO blocks, safety patterns, and commissioning checklists to reduce deployment effort.
Quality, safety & compliance
* Ensure designs conform to applicable standards (e.g., ISO 10218, ISO 13849, IEC 60204) and support UKCA/CE technical documentation.
* Define test plans and acceptance criteria; drive factory/site acceptance testing (FAT/SAT) to first‑time‑right outcomes.
* Track technical KPIs (cycle time, OEE impact, defect rate, rework, deployment lead time) and feed lessons learned into standards.
Delivery & collaboration
* Arrange manufacturing of equipment and support build; ensure DFM/DFA and clear manufacturing drawings/BOMs.
* Liaise proactively with software engineers and the project manager to align scope, milestones, and risks; maintain clear, version‑controlled documentation.
* Lead on‑site installation, commissioning, and handover; train customer operators/maintainers; provide post‑commissioning stand‑by support.
Continuous improvement & mentoring (non‑line management)
* Coach engineers on design methods, simulation accuracy, electrical safety, and programming practices; pair on complex tasks.
* Evaluate new components and tools; contribute to R&D spikes and the technical roadmap focused on faster deployment and simpler operation.
What we expect (requirements)
* BEng/MEng (or equivalent) in Mechatronics/Controls/Robotics/Automation.
* 3–5+ years of hands‑on experience delivering industrial robotic/mechatronic systems from concept to commissioning.
* Proficiency in CAD & simulation (cell layout, kinematics, reach/cycle validation).
* Strong electrical design fundamentals (schematics, panel design, safety circuits).
* Practical experience with PLC programming and device integration (safety scanners, vision systems, sensors).
* Atleast 3 years of experience with Robot programming.
* Solid understanding of functional safety and machine standards (e.g., ISO 10218/13849).
* Ability to produce clear technical documentation, run reviews, and make confident design decisions.
* Willingness to travel for customer installations and a valid UK driving licence.
* Programming experience - Python and/or Java preferred (for tooling, simulation, and integration).
Nice to have (preferred)
* Experience with common robot ecosystems (e.g., ABB, FANUC, KUKA, URScript) and offline programming tools.
* PLC platforms (e.g., Siemens TIA Portal, Allen‑Bradley Studio 5000) and industrial protocols (Profinet, EtherNet/IP, Modbus, OPC UA).
* Vision systems, safety devices, and cell simulation tools.
* Familiarity with ROS/ROS2, Git‑based workflows, and requirements tracking (JIRA) to match VIKASO practices.
* Experience with Onshape, SolidWorks, or EPLAN/AutoCAD Electrical for schematic and panel work.
Success measures (first 6–12 months)
* Standards published and adopted: core templates/libraries in use across projects; audit scores trending positive.
* Deployment speed: measurable reduction in commissioning time and rework versus baseline.
* Quality & safety: zero major safety non‑conformances; improved first‑time‑right rate at FAT/SAT.
* Knowledge sharing: regular tech reviews, playbooks, and mentoring sessions completed.
What we offer
* Competitive salary.
* Stock options (based on performance).
* Opportunity to learn and apply state‑of‑the‑art engineering practices.
* Opportunity to build VIKASO into a multi-national successful organisation.
* Opportunity to take leadership roles during VIKASO's scale-up phase.
* Exposure to diverse automation challenges.