DeepForm Ltd is an early stage start-up company introducing patented sheet metal pressing technology which significantly reduces waste, cost and embodied CO₂ emissions in the high-volume manufacturing of sheet metal components. DeepForm optimises material use by reimagining metal sheet forming tooling.

We are an exciting University of Cambridge spin-out company founded in 2022. Having secured external investment and formed a strategic alliance with a well-known automotive manufacturer we are securing our first major projects. This is an exciting time to join at the very early stages in the company’s mission to reduce waste and embodied emissions in the manufacturing sector.

You will join a small, dynamic team based in Cambridge, UK. Your main responsibility will be to further develop our press forming technology for automotive and other clients. You will explore new configurations and applications of DeepForm’s patented technology, developing and testing press tools to maximise material utilisation. You will develop these ideas through simulation with AutoForm and test them using our lab-scale demonstrator and industrial-scale tools.

Together with DeepForm team you will support new and existing customer projects by designing and optimising press tools using DeepForm technology and contribute to finding solutions for other customer projects.

Key Responsibilities

R&D applications project work

Develop and design lab-scale and industrial-scale tools.
Commission, test and optimise/improve the tools.
Present results and progress updates to other team members and clients through reports and presentations.
Plan, execute and control these activities to ensure tasks are organised, resources are used efficiently, and goals are achieved.

Process development and invention

Identify, prioritise, and develop new applications of DeepForm technology.
Develop and design novel processes and configurations to improve material utilisation in sheet metal forming.
Develop further improvements to existing DeepForm technology
Contribute to and manage the process of patenting these ideas.

Support DeepForm customer projects

Use a suitable CAD package to develop tool surfaces based on customer-provided part geometry
Use Autoform, or other suitable package, to run simulations to test and improve tool surfaces, optimising several design variables
Use Autoform, or other suitable package, to simulate the full part manufacturing process – draw, trimming, piercing, restrike etc. including springback compensation
Present simulation results to customers, via written reports and presentations
Commission one or more toolmakers to fabricate physical tooling for DeepForm simulated tool designs; agree technical standards and sign off on supplier designs
Manage physical trials in a supplier facility, including collecting, analysis and reporting of trials performance data

Person Profile

Background and Experience

You will likely have a degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent
You would ideally have research or industrial experience in 3-D CAD design or manufacturing

Flexible and motivated to support rapid growth of a new business (Essential)

Independent, self-starter who knows when to consult when key choices/decisions are to be made.
Flexible approach to working in an exciting small team with developing formal structures

Use of modelling to evaluate and improve manufacturing designs (Essential)

Understanding of materials science and plasticity as applied to sheet metal forming, including but not limited to formability, springback and wear.
Evidence of using modelling of a manufacturing process to allow design iterations to improve a process
Skill in testing and validating modelling predictions
Proficiency in finite element analysis for metal forming applications, including software packages such as ABAQUS, LS Dyna, AutoForm or Pam-Stamp
Proficiency in using Python or Matlab to evaluate and analyse data from finite element analysis and physical trials.

Design of manufacturing tooling or machines (Essential)

Experience of designing manufacturing tooling or electro-mechanical machines, designing and/or selecting components, producing drawings and commissioning.

Excellent communication with customers (Desirable)

Able to create professional written and visual reports that communicate technical information to both team members and customers
Able to present ideas professionally – both in structured presentations, and verbally - to a customer
Recognise and respond to customer feedback

Time management and organisation(Desirable)

Ability to plan and manage customer projects, including planning projects using project management tools, tracking progress, setting up suitable meetings, reviews etc. to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget.
Able to manage own workload to ensure commitments to customers and colleagues are met

Location

Allia Future Business Centre, King’s Hedges Road, Cambridge, CB4 2HY

Working pattern

Full time
Office-based, with some flexibility for hybrid working

Benefits

Share option scheme
Pension scheme (up to 5% matched)
25 days annual leave excluding bank holidays
Office located in Cambridge city

DeepForm jobs

Research And Development Engineer