Operations & Commissioning Engineer

Adepto Technical Recruitment Ltd; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering recruitment firm is seeking an Operations & Commissioning Engineer to lead the commissioning of a new pilot plant in Nottingham. This hands-on role involves overseeing daily operations, managing a small team, and ensuring safety and efficiency standards are upheld. The ideal candidate will have experience in plant operations and strong problem-solving abilities. With a salary of £50-60,000 and benefits like health insurance and equity options, this role offers significant growth opportunities as the plant scales.

Benefits

Generous salary

Stock/equity options

Private health insurance

Pension

Exceptional growth opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven experience in commissioning and operation of pilot plants.
• Strong communication and team management skills.
• Familiarity with COMAH level safety practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead commissioning and operation of a new pilot plant.
• Manage and train a small operations team.
• Oversee daily operations and contractor coordination.

Skills

Pilot or commercial plant operation experience

Communication and stakeholder management

Leadership experience

Hands-on approach

Education

Background in Chemical Engineering or related fields

Full UK Driving Licence

Job description

Ready to take the lead in bringing a brand-new pilot plant to life?

Are you an Engineer who loves being hands‑on, driving plant operations, and bringing new technology to life?

Adepto are proud to be partnered with a pioneering organisation who are building a first‑of‑its‑kind pilot facility. They're now looking for an experienced Operations & Commissioning Engineer to spearhead commissioning, shape day‑to‑day operations, and help drive the transition from pilot to commercial scale.

This is a rare chance to join an organisation at a genuinely transformative moment: new technology, new plant, and the opportunity to influence how everything is built, run, and scaled.

As the Operations & Commissioning Engineer you will be at the centre of plant commissioning and early‑stage operations. You'll work closely with senior technical leadership, help define operating procedures, and build and mentor a small, high‑performing operations team.

This role is perfect for someone who thrives in hands‑on environments, enjoys problem solving, and wants to play a key role in standing up and optimising an innovative process from the ground up.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead the commissioning and safe operation of a new pilot plant
• Build, train, and manage a small team of plant operators
• Oversee daily site operations, shift planning, and contractor coordination
• Run the plant from the control panel, troubleshoot, and optimise performance
• Carry out routine analytical tasks (e.g., titration, Karl Fisher) and visual checks
• Manage maintenance schedules, calibrations, isolations, and permit‑to‑work processes
• Uphold the highest standards of safety, housekeeping, and operational readiness
• Support future deployments and represent the organisation at customer sites

Who We're Looking For

• Proven experience in pilot or commercial plant operation and commissioning
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• A background in Chemical Engineering would be highly desirable and advantageous, whilst other academic and technical backgrounds will also be considered.
• Strong leadership and team management experience within an operations setting
• Familiarity with COMAH level safety practices (e.g., permit to work, isolations, change management)
• Leadership experience in an operational, process, or manufacturing environment
• Practical, hands‑on approach
• Willingness to work flexibly (whilst the role will initially be based in the East Midlands, as the operation and technology scales, the business will progress to a new plant, currently forecasted towards mid‑end 2026 and is expected be in the North West/Yorkshire region. There may be a requirement to work across both sites during transition).
• Full UK Driving Licence

What's In It For You

• Generous salary (£50-60,000 per annum)
• Stock/equity options
• Private health insurance & pension
• Exceptional growth opportunities as the business scales
• The chance to be influential and contribute to shaping a groundbreaking process with significant environmental impact