Bioplastics Polymer Engineer: Lab Process Innovator + Equity

Natural Negative; Brighton; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Meaningful equity

28 days including public holidays

Workplace pension scheme

Job summary

Natural Negative in Brighton designs compostable biomaterials and runs a growing lab. We are seeking a Polymer Engineer to lead hands-on extrusion and plastics processing, developing scalable lab workflows and documenting results.

You'll translate direction from our Lead Polymer Scientist into practical test plans, create prototypes and production samples, and help build SOPs, risk assessments, and lab notebooks for funded R&D projects.

Qualifications

• HHands-on experience with polymer or plastics processing, ideally including extrusion.
• Proven ability to improve processes to faster, more repeatable outcomes.
• Self-directed with ability to set pace and priorities.
• Able to translate scientific direction into concrete lab plans.
• Rigorous data, documentation, and traceability.
• Collaborative in a small team and open to feedback.

Responsibilities

• Run polymer processing, extrusion and other operations, improving speed and repeatability.
• Support lab operations: sample prep, equipment operation, workspace organisation, safety, and R&D readiness.
• Test and validate formulations; design practical data collection methods where none exist.
• Manufacture prototypes and production samples; design fixtures and test rigs with CAD.
• Deliver for customers: dispatch samples, coordinate with testing facilities and partners.
• Contribute to funded R&D, including Innovate UK projects.
• Build and maintain SOPs, risk assessments, COSHH docs, lab notebooks to funders’ standards.

Skills

Polymer processing

Extrusion

Process improvement

Self-directed

Lab planning

Data documentation

Collaboration

Tools

CAD

Machining basics

Job description

Natural Negative in Brighton designs compostable biomaterials and runs a growing lab. We are seeking a Polymer Engineer to lead hands-on extrusion and plastics processing, developing scalable lab workflows and documenting results.

You'll translate direction from our Lead Polymer Scientist into practical test plans, create prototypes and production samples, and help build SOPs, risk assessments, and lab notebooks for funded R&D projects.