Senior Engineer – Applied Engineering & Testing

Castrol is one of the world’s leading lubricant brands, serving customers and consumers in the automotive, marine, industrial and energy sectors. Castrol brands are recognised globally for their premium quality and high performance, shaped by the company’s commitment to innovation and cutting-edge technology. With products sold in more than 150 countries, Castrol has helped keep things moving onroads and racetracks, air, sea, and space for over 125 years. 

Whether you're just starting out or ready for your next big move, you're in the right place to explore an exciting career with Castrol.

Job description

About the Team

At Castrol, we don’t just make fluids, we help define the future of mobility, energy and digital infrastructure. The Advanced Electrification Testing (AET) team sits within Castrol’s Technology organisation and plays a critical role in supporting Research & Product Development by generating real-world performance data on lubricants, thermal management fluids and cooling technologies. Our mission is to understand how liquids perform inside the systems they are designed to protect and optimise, from electric vehicle batteries and ultra-fast chargers to high-performance data centres and advanced electronics.

As part of a major investment programme, Castrol’s Pangbourne Technology Centre is evolving into a centre of excellence for electrification and energy technologies. The team operates world-class testing facilities including battery cell, module and pack laboratories, high-voltage charging systems, immersion cooling tanks, data centre server environments and large-scale thermal management test rigs.

This is a team for engineers who are naturally curious. You'll work in an environment that combines the freedom of university-style research with the pace and impact of commercial product development. One day you may be investigating battery cooling performance, the next developing new testing methodologies for data centre technologies or semiconductor cooling systems.

You'll join a highly collaborative group of engineers, technicians, graduates and researchers who are passionate about solving complex engineering challenges. We are looking for individuals who love understanding how things work, enjoy getting hands-on with equipment, and want to help create the next generation of high-performance technologies.

Key Tasks

As a Senior Engineer, you will lead research and development testing projects from concept through to final technical recommendations, working closely with internal stakeholders, technology experts and external partners.

Key responsibilities include:

- Leading end-to-end testing and engineering projects supporting Castrol's research and product development programmes.

- Designing, building, commissioning and operating advanced test rigs and experimental systems.

- Developing innovative testing methodologies for emerging technologies across electric vehicles, batteries, charging infrastructure and data centres.

- Designing experiments using statistical Design of Experiments (DoE) techniques and ensuring data quality and repeatability.

- Performing advanced data analysis and translating results into meaningful engineering insights and recommendations.

- Working hands-on with high-voltage systems, instrumentation, thermal management equipment and power electronics.

- Supporting the installation, operation and continuous improvement of testing facilities and equipment.

- Acting as a subject matter expert in one or more areas such as battery systems, thermal management, data centres, cooling technologies, power electronics or DC power systems.

- Collaborating with OEMs, technology partners and internal stakeholders to deliver co-engineered solutions.

- Coaching and mentoring engineers, technicians, graduates and interns while acting as a technical role model within the team.

- Identifying new technologies, testing opportunities and research directions that strengthen Castrol's innovation capability.

- Representing Castrol externally through technical engagement with customers, industry partners and research organisations.

- Maintaining the highest standards of safety, operational excellence and engineering integrity across all activities.

Experience Required

We're looking for an experienced, hands-on engineer with a passion for experimentation, problem-solving and developing new technologies.

You will typically bring:

- Degree-qualified in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics or a related engineering discipline.

- 5+ years' experience in a professional engineering environment or equivalent in academia.

- A strong background in engineering testing, experimental design and data-driven problem solving.

- Experience designing, building or operating complex test equipment and test rigs.

- Exposure to safety-critical or operational engineering environments.

- Knowledge of high-voltage electrical systems (typically >60V DC) and safe working practices.

- Strong technical reporting, communication and stakeholder management skills.

- The ability to work autonomously while leading projects and influencing technical direction.

- A curiosity-driven mindset and a genuine passion for engineering and technology.

Expertise in at least one of the following areas:

- Electric vehicle propulsion systems

- Battery technologies

- Thermal management and cooling systems

- Data centre technologies

- DC power systems

- Power electronics

- Electronics and instrumentation

Desirable experience includes:

- Master's degree, PhD or progression towards Chartered Engineer status.

- Experience of battery thermal management, immersion cooling or liquid cooling technologies.

- Knowledge of semiconductor or chip cooling applications.

- Experience with advanced measurement techniques, data analytics or CAE tools.

- Published technical papers or involvement in research programmes.

- Experience gained within automotive, battery, aerospace, power, data centre or advanced research environments.

This role is ideal for engineers who want more than a traditional testing position. If you're excited by the opportunity to innovate, develop new ideas, work across batteries, data centres, charging systems and emerging technologies, and have access to world-class facilities to turn concepts into reality, we'd love to hear from you.

Privacy

The Castrol entity recruiting for this role is the data controller for the personal information you provide. We use it to assess your application and to manage the recruitment and onboarding process. We may share it with service providers who support our recruitment, and it may be transferred to other Castrol entities internationally under appropriate safeguards. We keep it only for as long as necessary. For details of how we use your information and your data protection rights, contact  [email protected].

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, socioeconomic status, neurodiversity/neurocognitive functioning, veteran status or disability status. Individuals with an accessibility need may request an adjustment/accommodation related to Castrol recruiting process (e.g., accessing the job application, completing required assessments, participating in telephone screenings or interviews, etc.).

If you are selected for a position and depending upon your role, your employment may be contingent upon adherence to local policy. This may include pre-placement drug screening, medical review of physical fitness for the role, and background checks.