Job Opening: Process Hardware Engineer – Rapid Prototyping & Process Automation
Location: Münster (near FFB PreFab) | Start Date: 01.10.2025 | Contract: permanent
Language: English required, German a plus
About 8inks
At 8inks, we're not just improving batteries; we're fundamentally reinventing battery manufacturing. As an ETH Zurich spin-off located near Zürich, we are now expanding to Battery City Münster. We develop scalable multilayer electrode manufacturing systems using our patented curtain coating technology, which provides unprecedented control over electrode architecture. This innovation is material agnostic and unlocks higher energy density, faster charging, and improved sustainability—all at a lower production cost. We're an agile, impact-driven team building the next generation of battery technology—hands-on, fast, and always in close collaboration with leading industry partners. Join us at our new lab at Fraunhofer FFB in Münster and be a key part of shaping the future of energy storage.
About the role
We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled hands-on, curious, and technically broad engineer to design and implement experimental hardware systems for battery electrode coating and drying, fluid dosing and process automation. You will iterate directly with researchers in fluid dynamics and process development. A solid understanding of designing and prototyping mechanical components, implementing sensors and actuators, and writing software to control and monitor electrode production is required. Close collaboration with the process engineer is a key part of the role making interest and understanding in fluid flow and key benefit.
Your responsibilities
* Prototype Development: Design and build lab-scale hardware for dosing, mixing, and coating of slurries
* Mechanical Design: Rapidly prototype parts and fixtures using CAD and FDM 3D printing
* System integration: Integrate sensors, flow control, and embedded electronics into experimental systems
* Control Software: Develop robust control software using industrial automation systems (e.g. CODESYS)
* Process insight: Collaborate with the process engineer to understand slurry behavior and flow characteristics
* Cross-team Collaboration: Support experimental campaigns and iterate designs based on direct lab feedback
About You
* Academic experience: MSc in mechanical, mechatronics, electrical or related engineering field
* Industry experience: Ideally 2y+ industry experience
* Builder: CAD skills (e.g. SolidWorks or Fusion360), 3D printing and strong hands-on mechanical prototyping experience
* Sensing & control: Basic knowledge of wiring, sensors, actuators, and embedded programming (e.g. Arduino, RPi)
* Programmer: Programming skills in a high level programming language (e.g. Python) for UI, automation, data logging etc.
* Automation: Previous experience with industrial automation systems is a benefit
* Fluid flow: Motivation to understand fluid dynamics, wet film flow, or rheological systems is a benefit
* Self-driven, reliable, and motivated by real-world lab results
What we offer
* High Impact: Help shape the battery technology of tomorrow — from the lab into the Gigafab
* Collaborative Environment: Work closely with founders and a team of leading researchers and engineers
* Great Culture: dynamic result-driven team, mission-first, making our world a better place
* Ownership: Competitive salary & stock option participation, allowing you to share in our success as we grow.
Please send your full application including CV, transcript and a short motivation letter to Karl-Philipp Schlichting (karlphilipp@8inks.com)