Mechanical (material science ) Engineer

We’re supporting a client who is looking to bring on a driven R&D Engineer to strengthen their connector and connectivity solutions team. In this role, you’ll be responsible for developing connectors and customer-specific connectivity solutions, working across the full development lifecycle. From design and material selection through prototyping, process development, and testing.

A key focus of this role is material knowledge, particularly metals such as brass, and the ability to set up and coordinate physical testing programs together with colleagues in Germany and external partners. One of the first projects will involve a material change on an existing electrical connector. You’ll need to define which variations to test in order to find the right combination of settings and prove, end-to-end, that the new material performs to the required tolerances, strength, and stiffness.

Key Responsibilities
 

• Develop connectors and customer-specific connectivity solutions across the full development process
• Lead material selection, prototyping, and process development for new and existing components, with a focus on metals (specifically brass)
• Set up and coordinate physical testing programs together with colleagues in Germany and external partners
• Define test variations to identify the right combination of settings for tolerance, strength, and stiffness requirements
• Support a material change project on an electrical connector, proving performance end-to-end through the production chain
• Apply material science knowledge, including heat treatment, to achieve required material properties
• Perform or contribute to Design FMEAs and support bringing designs into production
• Develop and industrialize production processes, including for components currently produced externally
• Support new materials development in response to changing regulatory requirements (e.g., RoHS/REACH/material substitution)
• Provide support on quality-related matters
• Coordinate across international R&D, sales, and production teams; align priorities and ensure the right steps are taken at the right time
• Collaborate with customers, suppliers, and colleagues across multiple production sites
   

Skills & Experience

• Background in Mechanical Engineering or Materials Science (bachelor’s or master’s)
• Strong material science knowledge, particularly metals (brass specifically), including heat treatment for achieving specific material properties
• Experience with physical testing, tolerance analysis, and evaluating strength/stiffness properties
• Experience with Design FMEA and bringing designs from concept through to production
• Knowledge of injection moulding and production processes for metals and plastics
• Experience working across different companies and production environments
• Experience working with multiple external parties (customers, suppliers) and multi-site production setups
• Strong coordination skills — able to align stakeholders across teams and locations, even where priorities diverge
• Language skills: English required; Dutch and/or German preferred
• Willingness to travel to Germany roughly once every 3–4 weeks for 2–3 days

Nice to Have

• Experience with CAD systems, particularly SolidWorks
• Direct experience with connector design and producibility
• Experience with forming and stamping processes
• Experience integrating electrical, mechanical, and other components
• Modelling/FEA experience (a plus, not required — physical testing is the priority)
• Familiarity with connector/environmental testing standards (e.g., IEC 60512) and test methods (insertion/withdrawal force, vibration, thermal cycling, salt spray)
• Familiarity with DFM, PFMEA, APQP, or PPAP processes
• Experience with supplier qualification or make-vs-buy assessments

Logistics

• Location: South Holland (With occasional travel to Germany)
• Start: 7 September
• Type: Freelance
• Duration: 6 months

Contact

If you’re interested, please reply with your CV and contact details, and we’ll arrange a time to discuss the project in more detail.

Looking forward to hearing from you!