Chemical Process Engineer

Chemical Process Engineer (Scale-up / Pilot Plant) – Sustainable Materials / Chemical Recycling
Location: Bristol (on-site)

Salary: £45,000-£52,000 (depending on experience)
Type: Permanent | Full-time (40 hrs/week) | On-site 5 days/week

A high-growth Bristol-based cleantech is hiring a Chemical Process Engineer to support the scale-up and industrialisation of a novel chemical recycling technology for advanced materials and composites (applications across sectors such as aerospace/defence, automotive and renewable energy).

This is a hands-on scale-up role, bridging lab/bench work and pilot plant delivery, with strong exposure to process modelling, pilot plant operations, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Support scale-up from laboratory/bench scale to pilot scale, including technology transfer activities
• Build/maintain models for energy, environmental and techno-economic factors (e.g., Aspen / HYSYS, Excel)
• Support safe build, commissioning and operation of pilot-scale processes/equipment
• Collect and analyse process data; define KPIs; drive improvements to throughput, efficiency and cost
• Apply structured problem-solving (e.g., 5 Whys, FMEA, Kaizen)
• Support equipment maintenance/repair activities and calibration scheduling for safety-critical components
• Liaise with suppliers, procure equipment, and coordinate installation/project engineers as needed
• Produce SOPs, One Point Lessons and process documentation
• Present findings clearly to internal and external stakeholders; support shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment

Essential skills & experience

• Degree in Chemical Engineering / Process Engineering / Industrialisation Engineering (2:1 or above)
• Experience scaling laboratory processes to pilot scale (or demonstrably close equivalent)
• Knowledge in one or more of: polymer chemistry, solvent/solids handling, water treatment, chemical recycling
• Exposure to process design and/or technology transfer to manufacturing/operations teams
• Strong organisation and communication skills; comfortable in ambiguous scale-up environments
• Bristol-based (or willing to relocate)

Desirable

• Advanced materials / composites / technical fibres (carbon, glass, aramid)
• DSEAR / ATEX exposure and supporting HAZOPs
• Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) exposure
• Master’s degree and/or project management qualification

To apply: Send your CV (or message for a confidential discussion).