Full job descriptionChemical Process Engineer / Process Development Engineer - R&D to Production
Location: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
Working Hours: Days, with some shift cover required during plant trials
Contract: Permanent, full-time
The Opportunity
*Are you a Chemical Engineer with experience in process development, scale-up or industrial manufacturing?
*Are you interested in taking new and developing processes from laboratory and pilot-scale trials through to full-scale industrial production?
*We are recruiting on behalf of our client, a specialist manufacturing business, for a Chemical Process Engineer to play a key role in developing, scaling up and industrialising new manufacturing processes at its Ellesmere Port facility.
*This is an exciting opportunity to work at the interface between Research & Development and Production, translating technical developments into safe, reliable and commercially viable manufacturing processes.
*You will be involved in process development, pilot plant trials, production scale-up, commissioning and continuous improvement, working closely with R&D, Production, Engineering and Quality teams.
*With significant investment in new process capacity and the development of a 24/7 manufacturing operation, this position offers the opportunity to influence the introduction and optimisation of specialist industrial processes.
The Role
Reporting to the R&D Director - Manufacturing, you will take responsibility for progressing new and improved processes from research and development through to full-scale production.
You will ensure processes are properly designed, trialled, optimised and transferred into manufacturing, delivering safe, reliable and efficient production performance.
Key responsibilities will include:
*Leading and supporting the scale-up of chemical and metallurgical processes from laboratory and pilot plant trials into full-scale production.
*Working with specialist processes including molten salt electrolysis, reduction and alloying operations.
*Developing process designs, mass and energy balances, Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs) and operating parameters.
*Planning, coordinating and conducting plant trials, analysing results and recommending process improvements.
*Translating trial findings and technical developments into standard operating procedures (SOPs) and manufacturing instructions.
*Working closely with Production, Engineering and Quality teams to commission new equipment and successfully transfer processes into operational manufacturing.
*Identifying opportunities to improve production yield, product quality, energy efficiency and manufacturing costs.
*Leading or supporting HAZOP studies, process risk assessments and Management of Change (MOC) activities.
*Providing technical support and training to production operators and supervisors when introducing new or modified processes.
*Monitoring process performance and using production data to identify opportunities for ongoing optimisation.
About You
*You will be a qualified Chemical Engineer or similar engineering professional with experience in process development, process engineering or manufacturing scale-up.
*Ideally, you will have worked in a chemical, metals, materials or other process manufacturing environment, with experience taking processes from laboratory or pilot scale through to industrial production.
*You will be comfortable working across both technical development and operational manufacturing, combining engineering knowledge with practical problem-solving and data analysis.
Essential experience and qualifications:
*Degree in Chemical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
*Experience scaling up processes from laboratory or pilot plant environments into full-scale production.
*Background in chemical, metals, materials or other process-based manufacturing.
*Good understanding of process engineering principles, including process design and optimisation.
*Experience with mass and energy balances, process parameters and technical data analysis.
*Knowledge of process safety, including HAZOP studies, risk assessments and Management of Change.
*Strong analytical, problem-solving and communication skills.
Desirable experience:
*Experience with electrochemical processes, molten salt electrolysis, high-temperature processing or metallurgical operations.
*Exposure to reduction, alloying or specialist metal manufacturing processes.
*Experience commissioning new processes or equipment within a manufacturing environment.
*Chartered Engineer status through IChemE, or actively working towards professional registration.
*Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing or other continuous improvement training.
Why Consider This Opportunity?
*Join a specialist manufacturing business investing in new production capacity and advanced manufacturing processes.
*Work at the interface between R&D, process development and full-scale industrial production.
*Take ownership of bringing new technologies and processes into operational manufacturing.
*Gain exposure to specialist chemical, electrochemical and metallurgical processes.
*Work closely with multidisciplinary technical and operational teams.
*Play an important role in developing and optimising manufacturing capabilities within a growing business.
If you are a Chemical Engineer, Process Development Engineer or Process Engineer with experience in industrial scale-up and manufacturing, we would