Downstream Process Scientist/Engineer
Clean Food Group | Sustainable Oils Biotechnology Startup
Location:
UK (Knowsley, Liverpool)
Type:
Full-time, on-site
Experience:
Industry or PhD-level experience welcomed
About Clean Food Group
Clean Food Group is an ambitious biotechnology startup on a mission to make our food system cleaner, more sustainable, and more resilient. We harness oleaginous yeast culturing them on waste food to produce a range of oils, fat and alternative products to replace tropical oils, creating the next-generation of ingredients produced locally, deforestation-free with GHG reductions of over 90%.
We're growing fast and have just moved into our 1 million litre fermentation facility, capable of producing 1000's of tonnes of yeast per year. We are now looking for a
Downstream Specialist
to play a key role in our
R&D team
developing the next generation of products.
The Role
As a Downstream Specialist at Clean Food Group, you'll be hands-on in the lab, driving development of our solventless downstream stream process to produce purified oils and fats from early experimentation through to scale-up. You'll work in our R&D team, closely liaising with our Manufacturing team to optimise the downstream process performance, improve yields, and translate lab-scale success into a scaled-up process. This is a brilliant opportunity for someone who wants real ownership, fast learning, and the chance to shape a technology with genuine global impact.
What You'll Be Doing
* Designing, running, and analysing lab-based experiments in downstream processing of the yeast
* Optimising yields, reducing chemical loadings, and honing process conditions
* Supporting scale-up from the lab to the pilot scale (300 L), including supporting the manufacturing team in taking the techniques to 10,000L and beyond
* Collecting, analysing, and interpreting experimental data
* Maintaining accurate lab records and contributing to IP generation
* Collaborating across R&D, engineering, and commercial teams
* Helping to build robust, repeatable processes
What We're Looking For
* Degree (BSc, MSc, or PhD) in Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Chemistry or a related field
* Hands-on experience (3 year+) with downstream processing of biomass or microbial processes
* Strong experimental design and data analysis skills
* A practical, problem-solving mindset
* Comfort working in a fast-moving startup environment
* Passion for sustainable food and climate-positive technologies
Nice to have (but not essential):
* Experience with scale-up or pilot-scale processing
* Fermentation knowledge
* Experience in food, ingredient, or industrial biotech sectors
Why Join Clean Food Group?
* Work on technology with real environmental and commercial impact
* Join a friendly, driven, and mission-led team
* High level of ownership and influence from day one
* Fast learning and career development in a growing startup
* Competitive salary (£35,000 - £45,000 pa
-1
, depending on experience) and benefits
* We provide an equal, supportive and inclusive culture and embrace a diverse mix of talent to contribute to that. Therefore, we welcome all applications - regardless of gender (including gender reassignment), sex or sexual orientation, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origin), religion/belief, disability or age.
How to Apply
If you're excited by taking lab-based ideas to commercial scale, food biotech, and building something meaningful from the ground up, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply by emailing me directly ) with your CV and a short note about why Clean Food Group interests you