Mineral Processing Engineer

About Us:  

Material Evolution is a materials technology company founded in 2020 by CEO, Dr. Liz Gilligan and headquartered in Middlesbrough with offices in London and Wrexham. With a successful £15 million Series A funding round in summer '23 and our cutting-edge production facility in North Wales, we are on track to eliminate gigatons of carbon emissions.  

We’re an ever-expanding team of innovators, scientists, and experts, combining our unique blend of experience, skills, and expertise to drive change in the cement and concrete industry.  

Join us, and be part of a groundbreaking effort to build a more sustainable world, one material at a time.  

About this role and the impact you will have: 

As a Process Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in advancing our mission to produce carbon-neutral cement. Supporting the Head of Process Engineering, you will be instrumental in identifying, evaluating, and scaling innovative processing technologies. Your responsibilities will encompass conducting laboratory bench top experiments and process trials to validate and optimise new methods. Leveraging your technical problem-solving skills, you will address complex challenges and drive continuous improvement in our processes. Additionally, you will establish and maintain relationships with key suppliers and consultants, ensuring we have access to the best resources and expertise.  

This role requires close collaboration with R&D, Operations, and Safety teams to test, refine, and implement new materials and processing techniques that align with product and sustainability objectives.

What you will be doing: 

Process R&D: 

• Collaborate with the R&D team to evaluate new materials for performance, durability, and manufacturability. 
• Devise process trials to establish optimised operating parameters for key elements of the process including crushing, screening, milling, drying and Alkali fusion technology.
• Identify, clearly define and recommend suitable trials based on research and previous results.   
• Ensure accurate and timeous data collection, analysis and compilation of relevant internal and external reports.
• Responsible for technical liaisons with 3rd party manufacturer`s and other technical consultants supporting the R&D and Operations teams.  

Safety:  

• Consistently apply Safety & Health principles in all team interactions and take personal responsibility for safety of self and others to ensure zero harm and elimination of fatalities. 
• Identify process and safety specific risks within working area and implement plans/system to mitigate or eliminate these risks.  

Operations:  

• Prepare, maintain, and update laboratory procedures for determining process efficiency and product quality. 
• Set out sampling regimes and define QA/QC expectations.
• Provide first line support for Plant Operations by identifying opportunities for continuous improvement, suggesting potential solutions and supporting implementation of identified solutions to increase the performance of the plant.
• Bi monthly plant audits. 

Process Design: 

• Support the Head of Process Engineering in flowsheet development, Mass and energy balancing and PFD/P&ID development.  
• Process Engineering support in the development of a megafactory.
• Flowsheet trade off studies.   

We are looking for someone with: 

• Experience in a mineral/powder processing plant, EPCM, consultancy, or R&D environment.
• Knowledge of Cement/powder processing, crushing, screening, milling, drying and feed/product blending would be desirable.
• Proven experience in flowsheet development.
• Competent in new product and process development or technology transfer.
• Competent in the application of statistical techniques.
• Competent in the use of MS Office, including Word and PowerPoint.
• Knowledgeable and experienced in simulation software.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey technical concepts and results to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, ensuring effective collaboration across various teams and external partners 

This role requires a combination of technical expertise, practical experience, and strong communication skills to effectively contribute to our innovative and sustainable processing technologies. 

Our Benefits and Perks: 

At Material Evolution, we provide everything you need to perform at your best. Our rewards, benefits, and initiatives are designed to support your career growth, enhance your well-being, and contribute positively to our community.  

Along with a competitive salary, we offer an outstanding benefits package, including 25 days holiday (plus an extra day for your birthday), cycle to work scheme, learning budget and social events. At Material Evolution, we are passionate about well-being and have partnered with a leading healthcare provider.  

We’re creating an environment and culture where every individual feels safe and empowered to do their best work. We believe in everyone being treated and paid fairly, no matter their age, sex, ethnic background, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.