Pilot Plant Technician / Engineer

Reporting to: Lab manager

Salary:           To be negotiated, based on experience

Location:       Nottingham, UK

About Nova Biochem

Nova Biochem is a climate-tech company pioneering the transformation of industrial by-products into high-value, sustainable chemicals. Using our proprietary hydrothermal depolymerisation process, we convert lignin-rich residues from pulping and agriculture into renewable aromatic building blocks used in coatings, plastics, and resins - replacing fossil inputs and cutting emissions at the source.

Our mission is to unlock a circular, low-carbon model for industrial chemistry - creating new value from waste while reducing millions of tonnes of CO₂ emissions. Based in Nottingham, we’re entering a scale-up phase, expanding lab and pilot operations, delivering a €7.5M EU-funded project, and laying the groundwork for commercialisation.

This is a pivotal moment to join a small, mission-driven team determined to reshape the chemical industry through practical innovation.

The Role

We are seeking a Pilot Plant Technician / Engineer to prototype, build, operate, maintain, and scale Nova’s depolymerisation technology. This role sits at the intersection of hands-on operations, mechanical engineering, and early-stage scale-up.

You will be responsible for collaboratively designing, prototyping, building and testing new features at smaller scale prototype in the UK, then scaling them and building on a skid to be shipped to our larger pilot facility in Sweden. Role involves hands-on independent work building skid frames, high pressure (Swagelok) and low pressure (stainless plumbing) piping, integrating pumps, sensors valves and safety features.

The second part of the role is to take ownership in operating Swedish pilot plant. Expect to be away for two weeks every two months as a team of two to operate, maintain and improve a container-sized depolymerization pilot. This will include integrating new processes that have been designed and tested by you and the team in the UK.

Working closely with R&D, you will help translate laboratory learnings into robust pilot operation, contributing practical input into how the process and equipment should scale. This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys understanding how systems work, fixing what breaks, and steadily improving prototype / pilot equipment and process optimisation.

Key Responsibilities

Process Operations (Sweden and later Finland)

• Prepare biomass and feedstock for depolymerisation according to established procedures.
• Operate and monitor the depolymerisation prototype and associated systems to ensure smooth and consistent performance.
• Conduct downstream steps including filtration, phase separation, acidification, and product recovery (to be developed and scaled)
• Record process data, materials used, and operational observations accurately.
• Identify and report process deviations, equipment issues, or procedural concerns.
• Ensure safe operation of high-pressure and high-temperature systems, following internal safety protocols and applicable regulations.

Equipment Maintenance & Improvement (Sweden and later Finland)

• Take ownership of routine system upkeep and contribute to continuous improvement of prototype operation (high pressure tubing, pumps, instrumentation)
• Inspect, maintain, repair, and clean pumps, valves, tubing, fittings, filters, and pressure-rated components.
• Replace and upgrade mechanical components to improve reliability, safety, or performance.
• Troubleshoot mechanical and operability issues, diagnosing root causes rather than applying temporary fixes.
• Support calibration and basic instrumentation checks where required.

Pilot Plant Development & Scale-Up Support (UK and Sweden)

• Support design of new features for UK-based prototype
• Lead implementation of new features: prototype, build and jointly test
• Lead scaling and construction of new features designed for larger pilot
• Lead mechanical and process modifications required for pilot plant improvement and integration of downstream processes.
• Lead commissioning, shakedown, and testing of new pilot configurations or equipment.

Who You Are

You are a practical, hands-on technician or engineer who enjoys working directly with equipment. You take pride in keeping systems running reliably and are comfortable taking things apart, understanding why they failed, and putting them back together better than before.

You are methodical, safety-conscious, and observant, with the ability to spot small issues before they become bigger problems. You are comfortable working in a prototype environment where systems evolve, procedures improve over time, and practical judgement matters as much as documentation.

Essential Skills / Experience

• Experience in design and construction of prototypes and pilot plants
• Experience operating and maintaining pilot-scale, industrial, or prototype process equipment.
• Strong mechanical aptitude, with hands-on experience working on pumps, valves, piping, fittings, and pressurised systems.
• Practical troubleshooting skills focused on mechanical reliability and operability.
• High attention to detail with accurate record-keeping and documentation.
• Comfortable handling process chemicals and working within defined safety procedures.
• Organised and dependable, with the ability to manage routine operations and respond to unplanned issues.
• Clear communicator who works well within a small, collaborative team.

Desirable Skills / Experience

• Experience with high-temperature or high-pressure systems (or supercritical fluids, especially supercritical water).
• Exposure to pilot plant operation, commissioning, or scale-up activities.
• Background in mechanical, process, or chemical engineering, or equivalent technical training.
• Familiarity with PFDs, P&IDs, and standard operating procedures.
• Experience contributing to equipment modification or process improvement projects.
• Interest in sustainable technologies and early-stage industrial innovation.

Why Join Us?

At Nova Biochem, you’ll join a small, ambitious team translating breakthrough science into real-world impact. As part of our core operations team, your work will help ensure our depolymerisation prototype runs safely, reliably, and efficiently as we turn innovative chemistry into practical results.

You’ll have the opportunity to work directly with new technology, gain hands-on experience in process development, and see your efforts contribute to product validation and future scale-up. Every improvement you make and every process you help refine will move us closer to a more sustainable chemical industry.

If you’re motivated by purpose and excited to turn scientific breakthroughs into real-world impact, we’d love to hear from you.