Innovation Technical Expert

Severn Trent Plc; Coventry; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days holiday + bank holidays

Annual bonus up to £2,250

Leading pension scheme

Sharesave scheme

Academy training and development

Electric vehicle scheme

Family friendly policies

Two volunteering days per year

Job summary

Severn Trent Plc in the UK is seeking an Innovation Technical Expert with a background in process engineering or process science to help develop advanced digital twin capabilities for wastewater treatment sites. You will combine process expertise, operational data and mechanistic modelling to forecast, simulate and optimise treatment performance, then present findings to diverse stakeholders.

Based in Coventry, this 37‑hour role offers WFH flexibility and cross‑site travel, with the Asset

Qualifications

• Experience as a process engineer or scientist in wastewater and sludge treatment.
• Proven ability to develop, calibrate, and apply mechanistic models.
• Experience with sampling, data interpretation, and translating findings into improvements.
• Knowledge of greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater treatment, especially N2O.

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed process flow diagrams for wastewater and biosolids sites.
• Build and apply mechanistic models to forecast and optimise operations.
• Connect models with operational data to enable digital twin capabilities.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams and present insights clearly to stakeholders.
• Calibrate and validate models using site data.

Skills

Process engineering

Wastewater treatment

Wastewater modelling

Mechanistic modelling

Data integration

Stakeholder communication

Independent worker

Education

Degree in Chemistry / Chemical Engineering / Environmental Engineering

Job description

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We’re more than just a water company. We're dedicated to making a positive impact on the environment, sustainability, and the communities we serve. By joining us, you’ll work with the latest technologies, driving forward-thinking projects that enhance and protect national infrastructure, making a real difference to the communities we serve.

Our innovation strategy is simple - We want to solve the challenges we have today as well as find answers to some of our industry’s bigger long-term challenges. Whether it's delivering water that is always good to drink, reducing waste in our processes with energy efficient technologies, working on developing our digital and artificial intelligence approach, or improving visibility of the network, our team of innovators are working day in day out to make it happen.

With nearly 10,000 colleagues, we're looking for more brilliant people who are passionate about sustainability, eager to innovate, and ready to turn challenges into opportunities for a better future.

LET’S CUT STRAIGHT TO IT

We’re looking for an Innovation Technical Expert with a background in process engineering or process science to help develop advanced digital twin capabilities for sewage treatment sites. This is a high-impact role where you’ll apply wastewater treatment modelling experience and knowledge of wastewater and biosolids treatment to support forecasting, simulation, and process optimisation.

You’ll combine process expertise, operational data, and mechanistic modelling to understand treatment performance, assess improvement opportunities, and support practical decisions on how wastewater and sludge treatment systems are operated and optimised.

You will work with a wide range of other departmental teams to ensure the project is delivered to the right standard with all the necessary outcomes achieved, therefore having excellent communication and stakeholder skills are key. A critical part of this is understanding your stakeholders around the business and being skilful at presenting your findings to gain their buy‑in, so that the insight you produce lands effectively and contributes to driving continuous improvement and becomes the technology or process of tomorrow. Operational and site experience is an important element of this role, as you will seek to embed innovative solutions into real site environments.

You will need to work independently on your own initiative and, importantly, as part of a high performing team, demonstrating Severn Trent’s values of Pride, Courage, Curiosity and Care at your core and uphold excellent safety behaviours. You will be empowered to take control of your personal development and constantly seek to improve your and the team's skill set by sharing knowledge and learning.

You will be based out of our office Head Office in Coventry.You’ll work within our Asset Intelligence and Innovation team. With this being such a critical role, we’re looking for someone who can join us 37 hours a week, but we will consider requests for considering a part time work pattern. WFH flexibility available and travel to other sites will be required at times so you’ll need to hold a full U.K driving licence.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

• Investigate and understand wastewater and bioresources site operations to develop detailed process flow diagrams.
• Identify gaps between existing and required monitoring and equipment for the digital twin to function.
• Develop and apply mechanistic models of wastewater and sludge treatment processes, accounting for hydraulics and relevant physical, chemical, and biological processes.
• Work with data and digital specialists to connect process models with operational data, such as flows and loads, to support digital twin capabilities.
• Use models for forecasting, scenario assessment, and real‑time process optimisation.
• Calibrate and validate models against site data to ensure they reliably represent treatment performance.
• Interpret operational and trial data to identify process constraints and recommend improvements to wastewater and sludge treatment performance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and communicate insights clearly to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.

You’ll be part of a multidisciplinary team working across process engineering, process science, data, and operations to deliver practical improvements and next‑generation digital solutions for wastewater and sludge treatment. This is a hands‑on technical role with strong collaboration across disciplines.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

• Experience as a process engineer or process scientist, with strong knowledge of wastewater and sludge treatment processes.
• Proven experience in wastewater treatment modelling, including developing, calibrating, validating, and applying mechanistic models.
• Familiarity with wastewater quality sampling and analysis through laboratory testing and/or sensor monitoring, with the ability to interpret operational and experimental data, assess model outputs, and translate findings into practical process improvements.
• Knowledge and experience of greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater treatment, particularly nitrous oxide (N ₂ O), including emission mechanisms, monitoring, and mitigation opportunities.
• Ability to work on and prioritise technical workload on multiple projects across our innovation programme.
• Skilled in delivering robust, viable solutions to complex challenges in a timely manner.
• Clear and confident in conveying technical concepts to diverse technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• Desirable: experience applying process models to digital twins, treatment optimisation, or the evaluation of innovative wastewater and sludge treatment technologies.

HOW WE’LL REWARD AND CARE FOR YOU

Working here isn’t just a job. You can build a career at Severn Trent. We’ll reward you for it, too. We have a range of benefits that recognise great work, and award‑winning training to help you reach your potential. And we’ll also help you play your part in looking after the environment and the communities where we live.

With that in mind, here are just some of our favourite's perks that you’ll get being part of the Severn Trent family:

• 28 days holiday + bank holidays (and the ability to buy/ sell up to 5 days per year)
• Annual bonus scheme (of up to £2,250 of base salary per annum based on company performance)
• Leading pension scheme – we will double your contribution (up to 15% when you contribute 7.5%)
• Sharesave – the chance to buy Severn Trent Plc shares at a discounted rate
• Dedicated training and development with our ‘Academy’
• Electric vehicle scheme and retail offers
• Family friendly policies
• Two volunteering days per year