Laboratory Manager in Leeds

Role: R&D Lab and Workshop Manager

Location: Leeds (Batley)

Do you want to work with the 15th fastest-growing startup in Europe? If so, you're in the right place.

AssetCool is one of Europe's fastest-growing startups, building the fastest path to more power on the grid.

We're tackling one of the most urgent challenges in the global energy transition: grid congestion. Electricity demand is rising fast; driven by electrification, AI and data centres. While traditional grid upgrades take years, demand exists today. The grid isn't ready.

AssetCool delivers robotic grid upgrades that physically increase the capacity of existing transmission lines by up to 30%, without rebuilding infrastructure. Using advanced robotics and proprietary photonic coatings, we unlock data-centre-scale capacity in weeks to months, not years and at a fraction of the cost and disruption of conventional approaches.

Our technology goes beyond capacity. We reduce losses, prevent corrosion, cut corona noise and generate high-value operational data that supports smarter grid operation and maintenance. Our systems are already deployed globally, and we just raised a big funding round from leading energy and climate investors.

AssetCool is one of the most innovation-driven companies in the UK energy sector and we're scaling fast! If you're ambitious, mission-driven and excited to work on real deployments that strengthen the industry that really matters, AssetCool is where you can make it happen.

Role Overview

We are seeking a highly organised, proactive R&D Lab and Workshop Manager to join our expanding team in Leeds. This critical role is designed to eliminate operational bottlenecks, accelerate our R&D prototyping cycles, and maximize workplace safety and efficiency.

Currently, our engineering team splits its focus between technical system-level development, hands‑on workshop fabrication, and the organisational overhead of running a facility. As the single owner of the R&D lab environment and prototyping workshop, you will establish high‑level workspace standards, resolve inefficiencies surrounding tool availability, lab organization, and prototype execution. This position serves as a force-multiplier: by executing practical hardware builds and maintaining a world‑class lab workspace, you will directly enable our design engineers to focus on core design and problem‑solving, accelerating our development timelines.

Key Responsibilities

• Lab Management & Operational Efficiency
• Take total ownership of the cleanliness, safety, physical layout, and day-to-day operational efficiency of the R&D lab spaces.
• Implement robust tool tracking, organised storage, and 5S workplace organization methodologies to eliminate lost/missing equipment and minimise duplicate tool purchases.
• Manage health and safety compliance, driving standards to a top‑class proactive level, including the oversight of chemical safety (COSHH) systems.
• Maintain inventory control of R&D consumables, materials, and spare parts, ensuring essential items are always readily available.
• Support the engineering team with procurement, including sourcing and executing hardware component purchasing.
• Standardise lab documentation and own safety and operational training programmes within the engineering department.
• Workshop Operations & Prototyping Execution
• Oversee and execute the physical assembly of custom engineering test rigs, physical prototypes, and complex structural hardware.
• Manage equipment commissioning, preventative maintenance cycles, and calibration schedules for shared laboratory hardware.
• Proactively drive cross‑functional facility tasks and operational infrastructure upgrades to optimise the lab for high-speed, rapid iteration.
• Perform hands‑on manufacturing and modification of metal, plastic, and mechanical parts (including cutting, drilling, and bending).
• Operate, calibrate, and maintain workshop machinery, including 3D printers, laser and water jet cutters, power tools, and prototype equipment.

Required Skills & Experience

• Proven experience working as a mechanical technician, laboratory manager, workshop supervisor, or in a similar practical engineering support role.
• Demonstrated leadership capability in implementing asset management systems, tool tracking, and structured workplace methodologies (e.g., 5S).
• Strong hands‑on fabrication skills, including experience building mechanical assemblies, working with aluminium extrusions, using workshop machinery, and operating 3D printers.
• Solid practical understanding of Health & Safety standards, risk mitigation, facility governance,