Lead Process Engineer

Bryden Wood; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9-Day Fortnight

Paid Professional Membership

Private Healthcare

Career Progression

Pension Scheme

Personal Accident Insurance and Group 

Cycle to Work and EV Schemes

Learning Opportunities

Social Events

Job summary

Bryden Wood is seeking a Lead Process Engineer to provide technical authority across early-stage capital studies and to direct engineering effort for complex multidisciplinary teams.

The role spans FEL1–FEL3, emphasizing engineering depth, client-facing collaboration, and delivering buildable outputs while mentoring junior engineers and supporting business development.

Qualifications

• Degree in chemical engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Significant post-qualification experience providing technical authority on complex early-stage studies.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical authority and direction on assigned studies — owning the engineering approach and output quality.
• Direct the study team's engineering effort, set priorities, resolve conflicts, ensure cross-disciplinary coherence.
• Manage the primary client relationship throughout the study lifecycle with iterative, non-linear processes.
• Challenge clients to think differently to maximize value across projects.
• Lead and contribute to technical content — process concepts, mass/energy balances, equipment choices, docs.
• Adapt the study approach as scope evolves and client objectives change.
• Mentor and develop junior and mid-level engineers within the team.
• Contribute to business development by identifying follow-on opportunities.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Technical depth

Client communication

Systems thinking

Multidisciplinary

Education

Chemical engineering degree

Tools

Aspen

HYSYS

Job description

The Lead Process Engineer is a senior role combining technical leadership with project engineering management across Bryden Wood's portfolio of early-stage capital studies. You will provide technical authority within specific projects, direct engineering effort at the study level, and maintain the primary client relationship — while remaining a major technical contributor throughout.

SAINT - Systemisation for the acceleration of the introduction of new technologies - is Bryden Wood’s most rapidly growing and intellectually distinctive business unit, carrying out early-stage capital project design and due diligence studies for leading companies in life sciences, green energy and chemicals, and nuclear. We apply systems thinking, transdisciplinary collaboration, and iterative design to problems that conventional engineering consultancies address through sequential, specification-driven methods.

The balance of this role shifts with project stage. At earlier stages — discovery and FEL1 — the emphasis is on client-facing engagement, framing the technical approach, and coordinating multidisciplinary input. At later stages — FEL2 and FEL3 — the role involves more active engineering management: directing where engineers put their effort, ensuring technical coherence across the study, and driving the work to a credible, buildable output. In all cases, you lead from technical depth, not from administration.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical authority and direction on assigned studies — taking ownership of the engineering approach and quality of output
• Direct the engineering effort of the study team — setting priorities, resolving technical conflicts, and ensuring coherent integration across disciplines
• Manage the primary client relationship throughout the study lifecycle — maintaining confidence through an iterative, non-linear process
• Challenge and encourage clients to think differently about their projects to deliver maximum value
• Lead and contribute to technical content — process concepts, mass and energy balances, equipment selection, and study documentation
• Adapt the study approach in response to evolving scope and client objectives
• Mentor and develop junior and mid-level engineers within the study team
• Contribute to business development by identifying and developing follow-on opportunities

Technical Skills and Knowledge

• Strong process engineering background with demonstrated technical depth — sufficient to provide credible technical authority to a multidisciplinary team
• Experience of technical leadership and engineering management across the full project lifecycle, demonstrated on multiple significant projects and ideally spanning more than one sector
• Track record as a major technical contributor — not primarily an administrator of other people's work
• Client-facing experience — comfortable leading technical discussions with senior client stakeholders
• Experience in at least one of SAINT's primary sectors: life sciences/biopharma or green energy and chemicals
• Comfort working in iterative, non-linear environments without a rigid specification
• Strong written, verbal, and visual communication — able to explain complex technical ideas clearly to non-specialist audiences, including through diagrams, schematics, and other graphical means
• Experience across both life sciences and energy/chemicals sectors
• Exposure to early-stage or conceptual work — FEL1/2/3, feasibility, or due diligence — rather than exclusively detailed design
• Familiarity with process simulation tools (Aspen, HYSYS, or equivalent)
• Experience working with US clients or in the US market
• Knowledge of DfMA or modular process design approaches
• Experience of process plant operations, construction, or commissioning

Skills and Behaviours

The Kind of Person Who Thrives at SAINT

Technical credentials matter — but they are not sufficient. The people who do their best work at SAINT share certain qualities that go beyond discipline:

• Technical practitioners first — they lead from engineering depth and remain hands-on contributors throughout
• Comfortable switching between technical leadership and client coordination depending on study stage
• Strong communicators who can represent complex technical positions clearly to both engineers and non-technical clients
• People who find genuine satisfaction in enabling a team to do its best work — without needing to control every decision
• Resilient and adaptable — able to hold client relationships steady through ambiguity and iteration

This role will suit someone who sees technical depth as the foundation of their professional identity rather than primarily a management or coordination role. SAINT is looking for a Lead Process Engineer whose ability to direct engineering effort comes from technical credibility and judgment, and who remains an active technical contributor throughout. Those most comfortable in a conventional project delivery environment with well-defined deliverables and a clear authority structure may find SAINT's iterative, systems-thinking approach a significant adjustment.

Qualifications and Experience

• Degree in chemical engineering or a closely related process engineering discipline
• Significant post-qualification experience — sufficient to provide technical authority on complex, multi-discipline early-stage studies

Career development and progression

SAINT is growing rapidly and the team is genuinely collaborative — which means real opportunities to take on growing responsibilities, shape your own role, and influence the group's direction and capabilities. There are many experienced people in the team who are willing to support the professional development of self-motivated colleagues.

At Bryden Wood, we offer a range of company perks, including:

• 9-Day Fortnight: Enjoy one extra day off every other week, with no extra hours required and no change to your salary.
• Paid Professional Membership: We cover eligible professional memberships.
• Private Healthcare: Fully funded by us.
• Career Progression: Regular performance reviews to support your growth.
• Pension Scheme: We match contributions up to 5%.
• Personal Accident Insurance and Group Life Scheme: Additional financial protection.
• Cycle to Work and EV Schemes: Support for greener travel.
• Learning Opportunities: Regular CPDs and development opportunities.
• Social Events: Office lunches, outings, and monthly socials.

*Benefits vary depending on geographical location and will be discussed at interview.

Additional information.

Appointment to this role will be subject to satisfactory references and possession of valid Right to Work documentation for the relevant location.

To protect the interests of all parties, Bryden Wood will not accept unsolicited or speculative CVs from recruitment agencies and will not be responsible for any associated fees.

Bryden Wood is an Equal Opportunities Employer. Equality, diversity, and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do. Working in a diverse society, we recognise that our clients, colleagues, and contractors are central to our success.