Alexei graduated with first-class honours in aeronautical engineering from the University of Bristol in 2007. He remained there to study for an EngD in systems engineering, sponsored by Tidal Generation Ltd. Following a brief detour into music during which he worked as a freelance singer, he returned to engineering at the AMRC's Machining Group. He moved to the Integrated Manufacturing Group in 2020 and now works as technical lead for the electrification team.

The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) specialises in developing advanced manufacturing technologies for aerospace, automotive, medical, and other high-value industries. In the electrification arena, alongside activities in power electronics, machines and drives across the University of Sheffield, the AMRC supports development, testing, and industrialisation. The AMRC has expertise in creating lightweight components for electrical machines through machining (including shafts, hubs, and gears), casting, additive manufacturing, and composites in addition to application-specific capabilities such as laser cutting of electrical steels and coil winding.