Vacancy – Polymer Materials Scientist R&D Lead

Posted on 21 November 2022

Are you ambitious, versatile and interested in leading world-changing R&D and new product development (NPD) in the field of sustainability and the circular materials economy?

Longworth is singularly focused on driving change in the field of materials reclamation and re-use, centred around synthetic polymers and composites, and is driving a shift in thinking whereby industry and society demands and delivers a ‘5th industrial revolution’. In our vision of the world it is accepted as normal that the majority of materials we use in everyday products are able to be reclaimed, recycled and re-used, adopting multiple life cycles.

If this vision appeals to you, read on…

We’re looking for a highly motivated, business-minded, ambitious person with a process engineering or materials science foundation / background, to progress, lead and supervise our innovation and R&D programme and help us accelerate market penetration. This is an exciting and challenging role at the forefront of polymer and composite recycling technologies, developing the applications engineering and science underpinning our patented DEECOM® system and commercialising our technology.  DEECOM®, which uses highly innovative ‘thermo-cyclic pressolysis’ to reclaim plastics and composite waste materials, is a significant step on the UK’s net zero pathway and we aim to maximise its opportunities.

We are a small company with a big vision and we need someone who is willing to work hard as part of a small team and not be constrained by a job description. You’ll work with external partners on industrial-academic R&D collaborative projects, representing the company and working with others across a range of NPD activities in exciting fields and applications. We’ll pay you a salary in the range c£45k plus benefits depending upon experience and qualifications, and we’ll provide you with opportunities to become an internationally recognised expert in a vital field of technological and environmental innovation.

Candidates should ideally have or be aspiring to work for a postgraduate degree, and sponsorship to undertake a research project leading to a higher qualification will be available for the right candidate. It is imperative to have a keen interest in materials sustainability and be highly motivated to enable more materials to be recycled and re-used in all manner of products and technologies. It’s essential to have proven experience in project managing multiple funded CR&D projects in line with funding body requirements and ideally you’ll have in depth working knowledge of MS Project or similar.

The role will be based in our facility in Blackburn, Lancashire however we can allow for some flexibility in the work pattern to accommodate location, personal and family circumstances.

Key activities:

• Project management and delivery (technical and commercial)
• Supervision of R&D engineers and students
• Working with partners in universities, RTOs and private-sector businesses on collaborative projects
• Running pressolysis reclamation process trials with a wide variety of feedstock materials
• Overseeing R&D activities for continuous improvement across all areas of the business, identifying and managing risks as appropriate
• Preparing technical reports and internal papers and implementing a robust R&D reporting and recording process for the business
• Managing the mechanical maintenance and continuous development of in-house DEECOM® units, from lab scale through to pilot prototypes and full size
• Identifying commercial opportunities for the technology as they arise, including potential markets for recycled output materials
• Working within ISO14001 standards and applicable H&S regulations
• Administration and compliance management on externally-funded R&D collaborative projects
• Writing and publishing technical papers and presenting Longworth’s R&D to academic / industrial audiences at conferences around the UK and worldwide
• Continuously developing and improving pressolysis energy efficiency, working with Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) data
• Analysing, recording and describing the behaviour of different materials before, during and after DEECOM® pressolysis
• Considering the development and protection of Longworth’s current and future, written and unwritten IP at all times.

See www.deecomlite.com and www.bmlongworth.com

Environmentalists at heart and innovators by nature

Longworth’s team is currently working on industry and academic projects involving the reclamation of high-quality carbon fibre composites, glass fibre, packaging, plasticised textiles, floor coverings and medical single-use plastics used in industries ranging from aerospace, automotive, energy, marine and fashion to medical and pharmaceutical technologies.

This varied and exciting role offers a real mix of chemical and mechanical engineering; you’ll need strong knowledge of chemical formulae and polymer behaviours and be familiar with lab equipment and analysis methods. You’ll need an affinity for machinery, tools and ‘making things work’.

Experience and qualifications

• Educated to graduate level in a relevant chemical, science, polymers, materials, or sustainability engineering degree (or equivalent)
• A keen interest in sustainable manufacturing and LCA
• Analytical thinker with a practical approach to problem solving
• Ability to be flexible and work in different environments
• Confident communicator, able to effectively communicate with people at all levels
• Ability to analyse and interpret results and input proactively
• Can-do attitude with a willingness to integrate into a friendly, hardworking team

Apply: Send a cv and email introduction to jen.hill@bmlongworth.com

Deadline: Monday 5th December 2022

*No agencies please