Mechanical Engineering Innovation Project

I’m looking for an experienced mechanical engineer to undertake the development of an innovative energy-system project intended for small commercial applications.

The project involves developing a novel mechanical energy conversion and storage concept, progressing from engineering analysis and design optimisation through CAD, simulation/FEA and ultimately toward a working, instrumented prototype and a validated design for scale-up.

This is an engineering development and innovation project, not a feasibility-study-only assignment. I am not looking for an engineer whose primary deliverable is simply to review the brief, determine whether the initial concept is viable, and produce a development roadmap. The engineering assessment and calculation will naturally form part of the work, but it should be used as tool to develop, challenge, improve and optimise the concept.

Where an initial assumption, configuration or component does not perform as required, I expect the engineer to investigate why, generate alternative solutions, calculate and compare options, and recommend or test improved approaches.

The objective is to progressively engineer the best practical solution capable of meeting the project requirements, rather than stopping at a conventional feasibility assessment. I am looking for someone who is comfortable challenging conventional engineering arrangements while remaining firmly grounded in physics, safety and measurable performance.

At this stage, I’m keeping the detailed operating principle and technical specifications confidential. My available engineering budget is £10,000, which I intend to allocate progressively against agreed engineering milestones and deliverables. Before I share the full Engineering Innovation Brief, I will require an NDA to be signed. If we agree to proceed, I will also require an Intellectual Property Transfer Agreement covering the project-specific work, designs and developments produced during the engagement.

This is an innovation-led engineering project, so there will be uncertainty, iteration and technical challenges along the way. Please apply only if you are comfortable working in that environment and bring a positive, solution-focused mindset, curiosity, resilience and a willingness to test ideas, challenge assumptions and improve the design as evidence develops.

*Please do not submit generic AI-generated responses to this advert. I am looking for a considered, personal response that demonstrates you have actually read and understood the project requirements. Copy-and-paste AI replies are immediately noticeable and, in my view, are unprofessional and show a lack of effort at the very first stage of the engagement.

I am particularly interested in engineers who can combine analytical engineering capability with practical design thinking and prototype development.

Thank you for your time.