Dr Nicole Martin

Engineering & Technology

Dr Nicole Jacqueline Martin

Physicist. Engineer. Builder.

About

I solve hard engineering problems — fast. My career spans Formula One aerodynamics, academic research, robotics, and product development — always at the intersection of physics, software, and hardware. I design and build complete embedded robotic systems from the ground up: PCB and electronics design, mechanical engineering, firmware, control systems, and application software. I've built ML models for race cars, designed continuum robots for jet engine inspection, and led engineering teams from concept to production.

Now, through Materia Lab, I help startups and SMBs turn ambitious ideas into working products — from feasibility through to full development.

Experience

Founder & Principal Consultant

Materia Lab

Jan 2025 — Present

Engineering and technology consultancy specialising in product development, prototyping, and embedded systems. Working with funded startups and SMBs to take products from concept through to production, covering mechanical design, electronics, control systems, and software.

CTO

SquareFace

Jan 2025 — Present

Leading product development and engineering, aligning technology strategy with business goals. Hands-on across the full stack — mechanical design, electronics, PCB layout, firmware, software, and mathematical modelling — driving product growth and shipping solutions that work.

Technical Strategy Product Development Full-Stack Hardware

Principal Engineer

Tharsus

Jan 2023 — Jan 2025

Led multidisciplinary engineering projects at the intersection of software, electronics, control systems, and mechanical engineering. Key project: developed a continuum "snake" robot for Rolls-Royce aero engine inspection — deriving inverse kinematics, building the control software, designing a force-feedback interface, and creating a real-time web dashboard.

Python .NET / Blazor C++ / STM32 Inverse Kinematics

Senior Software Engineer

Tharsus

Apr 2019 — Jan 2023

Architected and developed software systems for robotic and IoT products. Managed a growing team of software engineers. Projects spanning logistics automation, wearable devices, and smart warehousing — covering cloud, web, embedded, and mobile platforms.

Cloud Embedded Web Mobile Team Lead

Senior Lecturer in Aerodynamics

Northumbria University

Jul 2017 — Apr 2019

Taught Vehicle Dynamics, Classical Mechanics, and Aerodynamics at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Supervised PhD research in computational fluid dynamics. Commissioned and built a low-speed wind tunnel for vehicle aerodynamics research.

CFD Teaching Wind Tunnel Research

Aerodynamicist

Williams Martini Racing — Formula One

Mar 2013 — Jul 2017

Developed machine learning models coupling wind tunnel data with CFD and on-track telemetry to predict and optimise aerodynamic performance. Built custom ML pipelines using SVR, neural networks, and MARS. Created analysis tools and user interfaces for the aero team. High-performance computing with C++ and CUDA.

Machine Learning Python C++ / CUDA Wind Tunnel CFD

Doctoral Researcher

University of Surrey

2009 — Mar 2013

PhD in active flow control — designed, modelled, and tested synthetic jet actuators for aerodynamic flow control on aerofoils. Commissioned a research wind tunnel. Experimental work with laser Doppler anemometry, PIV, and hot-wire techniques.

Flow Control Experimental CFD LabVIEW Python

Junior Aerodynamicist

Toyota Motorsport GmbH — Formula One

Jul 2007 — Aug 2008

Part of the Toyota F1 team during TF108 development. Managed 100+ hours of wind tunnel testing, planned test schedules, and reported on aerodynamic performance.

Education

PhD Fluid Mechanics

University of Surrey · 2009 – 2013

Thesis: Modelling, Design and Implementation of Synthetic Jets for Flow Control

BEng Aerospace Engineering

University of Surrey · 2005 – 2009

Cody Prize · Hector Wainwright Prize

Publications

Were Team GB's skeleton suits responsible for fantastic three medal haul?

The Conversation · 2018

AI could help drones ride air currents like birds

The Conversation · 2018

Modelling, Design and Implementation of Synthetic Jets for Flow Control

PhD Thesis · 2014

Switching of a Bistable Diverter Valve with Synthetic Jet Actuators

AIAA Journal · 2014

Tracer Particle Momentum Effects in Vortex Flows

Journal of Fluid Mechanics · 2013

Capabilities

Engineering

  • Product Development
  • Robotics & Kinematics
  • Control Systems
  • Mechanical Design
  • PCB Design & ECAD
  • Aerodynamics & CFD
  • Rapid Prototyping

Software

  • Python
  • C / C++ / CUDA
  • .NET / Blazor
  • Embedded (STM32, ESP32)
  • Cloud & Distributed Systems
  • Computer Vision

Data & ML

  • Machine Learning
  • Mathematical Modelling
  • Data Engineering
  • Signal Processing
  • Experimental Methods
  • Statistical Analysis