Process Engineer – Pyrolysis & Carbon Systems
Role Summary:
Own the performance, modelling and validation of our pyrolysis systems at Royal Wootton Bassett, while contributing to their development and scale-up across a broader carbon removal platform.
You will work hands-on with a live plant, combining process modelling, operational support and engineering judgement to optimise performance and improve system design.
As a multi-skilled engineer within the site team, you will support operations, maintenance and safe systems of work, while helping turn a working plant into a repeatable system that delivers measurable climate impact at scale.
Why this matters:
We are building systems that remove carbon from the atmosphere and turn waste into a stable, long-term carbon store.
Royal Wootton Bassett is where these systems are proven, improved and prepared for deployment.
Your work will turn a working plant into a repeatable system that delivers measurable climate impact at scale.
THIS ROLE REQUIRES 3 - 4 DAYS ON SITE
Key responsibilities and accountabilities:
Plant operation, maintenance and optimisation
- Work directly on our Royal Wootton Bassett pyrolysis facility
- Monitor, troubleshoot and optimise plant performance across varying conditions
- Support day-to-day operations and maintenance activities alongside the site team
- Assist with fault finding, basic maintenance tasks and system interventions where required
- Adjust process parameters based on real-time performance and test outputs
- Support commissioning, integration and testing of new systems and upgrades
- Conduct flue gas analysis and use outputs to inform process performance and optimisation
Process modelling and system design
- Build and maintain process models using Aspen (mass and energy balance, system optimisation)
- Translate plant data into model improvements and design insights
- Support design and performance validation of new and existing pyrolysis systems
- Contribute to process design documentation, calculations and system specifications
Lab testing and material analysis
- Conduct hands-on testing (e.g. moisture content, carbon content using muffle furnace)
- Analyse feedstock and biochar outputs to understand system performance
- Use lab data to inform process improvements and modelling assumptions
Engineering development and scale-up
- Contribute to the design and development of new pyrolysis systems and projects
- Support technical reviews of technologies and external partners
- Participate in safety assessments (HAZOP, risk assessments) and change processes
Data, monitoring and MRV support
- Support the design and validation of monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) systems
- Ensure process data can be accurately captured, interpreted, and used
- Work closely with the carbon team to ensure outputs are technically robust
Site systems, safety and team support
- Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) and risk assessments (RAs)
- Support the development of safe systems of work and site documentation
- Contribute to training and upskilling of site personnel
- Ensure compliance with site procedures, permits and safety requirements
What we are looking for:
Core requirements
- Degree in Chemical Engineering or a related discipline
- Experience in process engineering within industrial, energy, waste or chemical environments
- Strong grounding in heat and mass balance and process behaviour
- Experience with process modelling tools (Aspen strongly preferred)
- Comfortable working hands-on in a plant environment
Technical Experience:
- Experience with process safety (HAZOP, HAZID, risk assessments)
- Familiarity with CDM regulations and engineering project environments
- Exposure to control systems (PLC, HMI, DCS)
- Ability to interpret and work with process data and instrumentation
- Experience contributing to plant commissioning or modification
Valuable experience (not essential)
- Pyrolysis, thermal processes or energy-from-waste systems
- High-temperature or solids-handling processes
- CAD or engineering drawing review capability
- Lab testing, materials analysis or process validation work
- Chartered status or working towards it
You will love this role if you:
- Want to work on a real system and see the results of your work immediately
- Enjoy improving and refining processes through testing, data and iteration
- Are motivated by taking something that works and making it scalable
- Like combining hands-on engineering with modelling and system thinking
- Care about building technology that has a clear, practical impact on climate