Job Description
Darogan are pleased to be working with our client, Trimtabs, who are recruiting a Head of Engineering at their R&D centre in South Wales.
About Trimtabs:
TrimTabs Ltd is a pioneering technology company in Bridgend, South Wales, focused on the sustainable, large-scale production of ultralong carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and hydrogen. Our patented process transforms plastics and solvents—including hard-to-recycle waste—into high performance CNTs and hydrogen, driving innovation in energy efficiency, advanced materials, and the circular economy.
They are rapidly scaling our operations and developing next-generation conductive wires, composites, and building materials that outperform traditional metals and support decarbonized infrastructure. TrimTabs value practical problem-solving, bold innovation, and a multidisciplinary team spirit—join us to help advance breakthrough materials manufacturing for a more sustainable future.
Role Summary:
Reporting to the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), the Head of Engineering will lead the end‑to‑end engineering function, driving the transition from MVP through to robust, scalable manufacturing of CNTs and associated systems. You will serve as the Design Authority for major engineering projects, ensuring that architectures, technical decisions, and execution standards are consistent, defensible, and aligned with Company Milestones.
You will lead and develop a multi‑disciplinary engineering team, including a Senior Engineering Project Manager, Lead/Senior Process Engineer, and Mechanical and Chemical Engineers, ensuring that design, documentation, risk management, and delivery processes meet hazardous‑industry and regulated‑environment expectations.
This role is suited to a senior chemical engineer with deep experience in process plant design, construction, and operations, from feasibility through commissioning, who enjoys growing teams, systems, and culture as much as solving complex technical challenges. Chartered Chemical Engineer (or equivalent) status is required.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Engineering Leadership and Team Development
· Lead, mentor and develop the engineering team, setting clear objectives, overseeing PDP/chartership development, and embedding a high‑standards, learning‑oriented culture.
· Provide overall engineering leadership as Design Authority across key programmes (MVP enhancements, gas recovery, modular micro‑factory, future commercial plants).
· Act as the day‑to‑day technical decision‑maker for major engineering issues, unblocking cross‑team dependencies between Engineering, Process Science and Operations.
2. Project and Design Governance
· Own the engineering lifecycle: project definition, basis of design, cost estimating, scheduling, detailed design review, construction support, commissioning, and handover to operations.
· Bring project‑management discipline (scope, schedule, risk, cost) to upgrades and new workpacks, coordinating contractors, vendors and fabricators to meet technical and commercial milestones.
· Oversee multi‑discipline design activities and ensure alignment with codes, standards and agreed bases of design.
3. Process, Operations and Technology Development
· Partner with Process Science to translate chemical engineering models, mass balances and trial results into design inputs, operating windows and process improvements for yield, quality and availability.
· Support Operations in planning and executing trials and production runs, troubleshooting plant issues, improving run turnaround and reliability, and ensuring safe-system-of-work is always applied.
· Guide the introduction and improvement of process modelling, data analysis and reporting tools (e.g. Aspen, COMSOL, calculation templates) to accelerate learning and de‑risk scale‑up.
4. Safety, Risk and Compliance
· Lead or input to HAZOPs, SIMOPs, risk reviews and other process safety studies, and verify compliance with site and legislative safety requirements.
· Institutionalise the use of pre‑task risk assessments, run authorisations and maintenance planning as part of a robust safe‑system‑of‑work.
· Ensure that operating procedures and engineering standards reflect industry best practice for hazardous process industries.
5. Documentation, Change Management and IP
· Maintain robust engineering documentation and change management: operating procedures, method statements, risk assessments, MoC packs, trial reports, calculations, datasheets and filing/version control.
· Ensure engineering and process science work is captured in clear, checked, externally comprehensible reports and calculations.
· Contribute to the development and protection of intellectual property (e.g. patents, control strategies) through well‑structured technical documentation and study reports.
6. Stakeholder Communication and Business Support
· Prepare clear technical briefs, reports and presentations for investors, customers and internal stakeholders as guided by the CTO and wider leadership team.
· Provide engineering input to production economics, debottlenecking options and technology roadmaps as required.
Ideal Candidate:
Trimtabs are looking for a Chartered chemical engineer with substantial experience delivering process plant projects and operations (chemicals, refining, LNG, semiconductor or equivalent complex industries). We value experience leading multi‑discipline teams from feasibility through construction and commissioning. Experience mentoring others towards professional recognition is welcomed.
We’re looking for someone who:
* Brings experience in start‑up or scale‑up environments, or is motivated by the pace, autonomy and learning these settings offer.
* Is comfortable with process modelling and data analysis tools.
* Values documentation, change management and risk management.
* Thrives in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment.
* Communicates effectively across founders, operators, scientists, contractors and investors.
Experience with CNTs or carbon materials is useful but not required. Curiosity, strong learning agility and clear chemical engineering thinking matter most.
What’s On Offer:
* Salary of £80,000 - £100,000
* Eligibility to enter the employee share options scheme
* A tailored training and career development programme, including structured mentorship within an engineering-led environment
* The opportunity to significantly impact a high-growth startup by working closely within the founders.
If you're ready to take on a technically engaging role that will support your professional growth, we want to hear from you. We welcome applications from women, people from under-represented backgrounds in engineering, and those returning to work or changing career paths.
Applications are encouraged from people who may not meet every listed requirement but feel they could thrive in this role and support Trimtab’s mission in a globally relevant, high visibility, strategic industry. They operate in a fast-paced, high-trust environment that values accountability, collaboration and sustainable ways of working.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The vacancy will be closed once we have identified a sufficient number of suitable candidates.
Please note that Darogan are working with Trimtabs as an exclusive recruitment partner – any applications made directly to Trimtabs, will be referred back to Darogan.