Placement Student — Chemical Engineering

CPI; Sedgefield; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading process innovation company in the UK is seeking Chemical Engineering Placement Students to support the Process Engineering function within their Materials Team. This role offers hands-on experience in day-to-day engineering activities and participation in innovative projects, with mentorship from experienced team members. Ideal candidates are students pursuing a degree in Chemical Engineering, eager to gain valuable industry experience and develop their skills.

Benefits

Up to 36 days holiday

Generous pension scheme

Life assurance and accident insurance

Flexible working

Learning and Development Opportunities

Free parking

Qualifications

• Currently studying or recently completed a degree in Chemical Engineering.
• Good understanding of chemical engineering fundamentals and university application.
• Experience with industrial placements or similar contexts desirable.

Responsibilities

• Support process engineering function within CPI’s Materials Team.
• Assist with day‑to‑day engineering activities and operations.
• Gain hands‑on experience in projects involving new designs and plant modifications.

Skills

Chemical engineering fundamentals

IT proficiency (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio, Outlook)

Interpersonal skills

Process modelling and simulation

Education

Degree in Chemical Engineering or a related field

Job description

Why this role is important for CPI’s

CPI is delighted to be recruiting for two placement opportunities for individuals who will join the established and growing Process Engineering function within the Materials Team based at Sedgefield and Wilton. The team comprises seventeen Chemical Engineers who work collaboratively to develop viable novel technologies and processes. This involves solving new and complex challenges and continually finding creative ways of working.

Placement students who join the Process Engineering team will gain first‑hand experience of developing and optimising laboratory, pilot and demonstration scale processes and will be using these results to support the design of full‑scale commercial plants. They will also contribute to a range of desktop studies including scalability studies, preliminary Front End Engineering design (Pre‑FEED), Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Techno‑Economic Analyses (TEA), mass and energy balances, flow sheeting and equipment sizing.

Our aim is to provide placement students with abroad and diverse experience, working across a wide variety of technologies, industries and project types. Upon joining the team, you will be assigned a supportive mentor and given the opportunities to shadow experienced team members across multiple projects, all while undertaking meaningful work aligned with your interests, strengths, and career aspirations. You will make valuable contribution to real commercial and collaborative projects and will become an important member of the team.

Process Engineering placement students in the past have worked on projects which include :

• Converting small‑scale batch process into small‑scale continuous process
• Visiting client sites to troubleshoot and improve their existing process
• Altering and optimising small‑based pilot plant to demonstrate the viability of a new technology
• Using lab results to inform the flow sheeting and preliminary design of a pilot‑scale plant
• Using client information to produce Preliminary Front‑End Engineering Design for a first‑in‑world recycling plant
• Assessing the commercial viability of a new process
• Validating plant cell biotechnology to unlock sustainable protein and ingredient production
• Testing manufacturing configurations for the next generation of nuclear energy
• Scaling up e‑waste recycling through disruptive deeptech
• Turning rags to riches through repolymerisation

The Role

As a Chemical Engineering Placement Student, you will support the process engineering function within CPI’s Materials Team. You’ll assist with day‑to‑day engineering activities and plant operations, gaining hands‑on experience in projects involving new designs, plant modifications, and operational support This role offers a unique opportunity to apply your chemical engineering knowledge in a real‑world setting and develop skills essential for a career in process engineering.

The person we are seeking

You will be studying towards (or have recently completed) an degree in Chemical Engineering or a related field, with a good understanding of chemical engineering fundamentals, with experience applying them through university projects.

You will be proficient in IT packages such as Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio and Outlook.

It would be desirable for you to understand process manufacturing facilities, engineering design, or pilot‑scale operations, whether through industrial experience through placements or similar.

Experience with process modelling, simulation, or CFD.

Applicants should be enthusiastic, have effective interpersonal skills and be willing to learn, gaining hands‑on/practical experience. The ideal candidates will be committed to, and actively seeking opportunities to develop themselves within this new and exciting role.

These positions would suit students whose course includes a sandwich year in industry, or those able to take a placement opportunity in industry between academic years.

The Company

At CPI we work with our partners to translate inventions into products and processes that enhance health and well‑being, protect, and improve our environment and increase productivity across industries.

With a deep understanding of innovation processes and funding, outstanding technical expertise, and industry relevant assets, we enable products and processes to be quickly and cost‑effectively brought to market. This supports the development of next‑generation manufacturing, highly skilled jobs, and economic growth for the UK.

Our partners operate across many diverse markets including pharmaceuticals, speciality chemicals, food and drink, electronics, and transportation.

What does CPI offer you?

• Up to 36 days holiday, including bank holidays – Plus a holiday purchasing scheme
• Generous pension scheme
• Life assurance and accident insurance schemes
• Flexible working
• Learning and Development Opportunities
• Free parking