Dye Recycle is a UK-based fibre reclamation company that transforms real-world waste into high performing materials. Our green chemistry technology separates clean fibres from vibrant colours, refining the unrecycleable into spin-ready textiles.
Why join us
We are a rapidly growing team working at the cutting edge of fibres, green chemistry, and circular products. In your role, you will be scaling a technology that is redefining the bounds of material recyclability. At present, only 1% of textiles are recycled back into textiles, while the remaining 120 million metric tons of waste remains in landfill. Your discoveries are the backbone of our innovation, and your experiments actively shape a more sustainable future. The work is fast paced, bold, and joyful, and we never lose sight of why we are here.
Role summary
We are looking for an experienced Senior Process Engineer to scale our technology to successful pilot and industrial integration. You will work directly with the R&D team to lead process optimization, scale-up studies, and develop precise comprehensive process flow diagrams (PFDs). You will flip between the lab and office to manage needed experiments and validations as you manage partnerships with equipment suppliers and contract manufacturers.
This position is not for the desk modeler. You will be hands-on and directly designing bench experiments while testing different machine setups as we pioneer integration with thermomechanical and chemical recycling.
Key responsibilities
Process development & experimental design
* Lead the design and transition of novel processes from laboratory scale (1-10L) to pilot (100 tpa) and industrial demonstration (1-10ktpa), including detailed optimisation of critical process parameters and derisking activities
* Design and execute systematic scale-up studies using first engineering principles, including experimental plans, equipment selection, design, and validation
* Develop comprehensive process flow diagrams (PFDs) and piping & instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs) using computational tools (AutoCAD, ASPEN), while performing detailed mass/energy balances to optimise process efficiency and identify potential bottlenecks
* Coordinate with the R&D team to translate lab studies TRL4 to pilot studies TRL8, followed by commercial demonstration
Contract Manufacturing & Commercialization Pathways
* Develop partnerships with equipment suppliers and contract manufacturers, procuring key lab and pilot equipment as required for new facility, including bespoke designs
* Establish SOPs, safety frameworks, QA/QC processes, and performance benchmarks
* Develop accurate but flexible project timelines with measurable milestones and key results, to be validated by key experiments and validation protocols
* Build and protect company intellectual property, including patents and trade secrets
* Participate in investor meetings when needed and contribute to Innovate UK grant projects
Qualifications & Skills
* 5+ years of process design experience in a leading engineering consultancy or EPC firm or significant experience in R&D process scale-up in a high growth start-up
* MSc or PhD in Chemical Process Engineering is an advantage
* Experience in solvent-based recycling, solid/wet processing, filtration, and slurry handling; expertise in adsorption, absorption, and packed column design is a benefit
* Comfortable with 50% hands-on work and 50% strategy and project administration; proactively seeks out problems to solve, finds joy in uncovering unusual solutions, stays humble and curious
* Capability to work independently in a rapidly changing environment with minimal supervision
* Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to write clear SOPs, technical reports, while also translating findings to non-technical audiences
* Must have line management experience with full responsibility for team performance
* Experience developing licensing frameworks is a strong advantage
* Chartered with the Institution of Chemical Engineering (IChemE) is a preference for local candidates
We offer:
* Competitive salary
* Full time position with flexible working hours
* Generous pension contribution and benefits
* Access to materials and textile recycling conferences and networking events
* Regular team events
* LinkedIn Learning training courses
Interview stages:
* 30-45 minute initial interview with 10 minutes presentation by candidate
* 90 minutes interview with a case study
Please include a cover letter and your current CV.