Graduate Engineer Trainee – R&D/Product

Job Title

Graduate Engineer Trainee – R\&D/Product

Location

Bengaluru, India

Employment Type

Full-time \| On-site

Experience

0–2 years (including relevant internships or academic project experience)

Department

R\&D/Product

About Newtrace

Newtrace is a climate-tech startup crafting next-generation electrolyzers for the wide-scale adoption of affordable green hydrogen. Our vision is simple — to decarbonise our planet and build a greener, more sustainable future.

We are a fast-growing deep-tech startup with a diverse team of highly specialized researchers, engineers, and industry professionals. Backed by leading investors including Peak XV, Aavishkaar Capital, Axilor Ventures, and Speciale Invest, we are committed to developing innovative technologies that accelerate the green hydrogen transition.

For more information, visit: www.newtrace.io

About the Role

We are looking for a passionate and technically driven Graduate Engineer Trainee – R\&D/Product to join our team.

The ideal candidate should have a strong understanding of electroplating principles, electrochemical processes, surface treatment, and metal coating techniques.

In this role, you will work closely with experienced engineers and researchers to support the development, optimization, characterization, and quality improvement of electrodes used in electrolyzer applications.

This is an engineering-focused role involving process development, experimentation, testing, data analysis, and continuous improvement rather than routine electroplating equipment operation.

Roles \& Responsibilities

• Assist in the development, optimisation, and standardisation of electroplating processes for metal substrates and electrodes.
• Support electroplating experiments by evaluating plating parameters such as current density, voltage, temperature, plating time, and bath composition.
• Set up and operate the electroplating pilot line according to specifications and work orders.
• Inspect plated products for quality, uniformity, and adherence to specifications.
• Perform maintenance and cleaning of electroplating equipment and work area.
• Study and analyze the effect of process parameters on coating thickness, uniformity, adhesion, surface finish, and overall coating quality.
• Assist in the preparation, surface treatment, and characterisation of metal substrates for electroplating applications.
• Conduct experiments and support the evaluation of electrochemical properties and performance of plated electrodes.
• Monitor plating bath chemistry and support analysis of chemical concentrations, bath stability, and process performance.
• Identify process variations, coating defects, and quality-related issues, and assist in root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Collaborate with R\&D, manufacturing, and quality teams to improve coating consistency, process efficiency, and electrode performance.
• Support the fabrication, characterisation, and testing of electroplated electrodes for electrolyzer applications.
• Collect, analyse, and interpret experimental and process data to identify improvement opportunities.
• Prepare technical reports, maintain experimental records, and contribute to the documentation of process parameters, SOPs, and test results.
• Follow laboratory and manufacturing safety protocols, including safe handling of chemicals, plating solutions, and electroplating equipment.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives to enhance process reliability, quality, and cost efficiency.

Must Have

• Educational Qualification: MSc/BSc Chemistry, BE/BTech in Chemical Engineering, Electrochemical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science \& Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Strong fundamental understanding of electroplating processes, electrochemistry, and surface treatment techniques.
• Knowledge of electroplating parameters, including current density, voltage, plating bath composition, temperature, and deposition time.
• Understanding of different metals, plating solutions, and their impact on coating properties.
• Familiarity with coating quality parameters such as thickness, adhesion, uniformity, and surface finish.
• Basic understanding of electrochemical reactions and electrodeposition principles.
• Ability to conduct experiments, operate pilot production lines, interpret technical data, and document findings.
• Awareness of chemical handling, laboratory safety practices, and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and attention-to-detail skills.

Should Have

• Academic project, internship, or industrial exposure to electroplating, electrodeposition, electrochemical processes, or surface coating technologies.
• Understanding of plating bath chemistry, chemical concentrations, and process control.
• Familiarity with coating defects, troubleshooting methods, and root cause analysis.
• Basic knowledge of material characterisation and coating evaluation techniques.
• Exposure to wet chemistry experiments and electrochemical testing.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications, and process documentation.
• Good communication skills and the ability to collaborate with cross-functional engineering and manufacturing teams.

Nice to Have

• Exposure to electroplated electrodes, electrocatalysts, or electrolyser-related applications.
• Familiarity with electrochemical testing and characterisation methods.
• Understanding of process optimisation, experimental design, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Interest in green hydrogen, advanced materials, and electrochemical technologies.
• Enthusiasm for working in a fast-paced startup environment with opportunities for hands-on learning and technical development.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary matching industry standards.
• 12 days of customary national/state holidays, 18 days of paid vacation accrued mon