Senior Research Fellow / Research Fellow (Design Factory)

About the role

The Senior Research Fellow / Research Fellow will lead applied research and product innovation within the Design Factory, collaborating with faculty, industry partners and students to develop commercially viable solutions that address environmental, social and economic challenges.

Key responsibilities

• Lead Research Fellows and Research Engineers/Assistants in end‑to‑end development and productisation of solutions, including experimental design and prototype validation.
• Manage projects focused on product innovation in Artificial Intelligence, renewable energy, circular economy, sustainable materials and carbon reduction technologies.
• Explore emerging technologies, frameworks and practices to advance product solutions across industries.
• Set challenging yet achievable project goals and conduct structured reviews to ensure timely delivery of milestones.
• Champion thought leadership in research and development, driving innovation across the organisation.
• Oversee facility planning, design, budgeting and resource allocation.
• Identify, define and resolve complex, non‑obvious problems within existing systems and processes.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with industry partners and vendors.
• Mentor and develop team members, providing leadership in scheduling, task allocation and performance monitoring.
• Co‑supervise student projects in collaboration with academic staff.
• Maintain comprehensive laboratory and project risk assessments in compliance with Workplace Safety and Health regulations.
• Collaborate with industry partners to co‑create innovative products that align with strategic business goals.
• Foster partnerships with businesses, government agencies and other stakeholders to develop impactful projects.

Required profile

• Proven experience leading research teams and managing product‑innovation projects.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities.
• Ability to set and achieve challenging project milestones.
• Experience mentoring junior staff and supervising student work.
• Excellent collaboration skills with academic and industry partners.
• Knowledge of safety and risk‑assessment procedures.

Required skills

• Artificial Intelligence
• Renewable Energy
• Circular Economy
• Sustainable Materials
• Carbon Reduction Technologies