Process Chemist

Vateris; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Vateris in Nottingham is seeking a highly capable, hands-on Process Chemist to join our technical team and help develop, optimise and scale chemistry from laboratory development into robust industrial processes. This applied role focuses on solving difficult chemistries and process-development problems, working with pilot-scale equipment and using analytical data to drive decisions for scalable production.

You will collaborate with chemical and process engineers to ensure technology transfer to

Qualifications

• PhD required with strong industrial or startup research exposure.
• Experience turning lab results into scalable industrial processes.
• Proven ability to design experiments and interpret analytical data.

Responsibilities

• Lead chemistry and process development from laboratory through TRL 5+ and pilot scale.
• Design and execute experiments to optimise reaction conditions, crystallisation, process parameters, product quality, yield and process repeatability.
• Troubleshoot chemistry and process issues and perform structured root-cause analysis.
• Translate laboratory results into repeatable, scalable industrial processes.
• Develop analytical methods, specifications, SOPs and quality-control procedures.
• Characterise materials and interpret results using FTIR, XRD, SEM/EDS, BET, TGA/DSC, calorimetry and GC-MS.
• Work closely with chemical engineers, process engineers and the wider technical team during scale-up.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Lab-to-pilot translation

Team collaboration

Education

PhD in Chemistry or closely related field

Tools

FTIR

XRD

SEM/EDS

BET

TGA/DSC

GC-MS

Job description

Salary: Competitive, depending on experience

Company: Vateris

The Role

We are looking for a highly capable, hands-on Process Chemist to join our technical team and help develop, optimise and scale our chemistry from laboratory development into robust industrial processes.

This is an applied industrial role for someone who enjoys solving difficult chemistry and process-development problems, working directly with pilot-scale equipment and using analytical data to drive process development.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead chemistry and process development from laboratory through TRL 5+ and pilot scale.
• Design and execute experiments to optimise reaction conditions, crystallisation, process parameters, product quality, yield and process repeatability.
• Troubleshoot chemistry and process issues and perform structured root-cause analysis.
• Translate laboratory results into repeatable, scalable industrial processes.
• Develop analytical methods, specifications, SOPs and quality-control procedures.
• Characterise materials and interpret results using techniques including FTIR, XRD, SEM/EDS, BET, TGA/DSC, calorimetry and GC-MS.
• Work closely with chemical engineers, process engineers and the wider technical team during scale-up.

Candidate Profile

• PhD in Chemistry, Materials Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Strong academic background from a leading university or equivalent research institution. Candidates from universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, Leeds and Sheffield, or comparably strong international institutions, are particularly relevant.
• 5+ years of relevant industrial experience following the PhD.
• Experience working within a startup, scale-up, advanced materials or industrial R&D environment is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrable experience progressing technology beyond laboratory research toward TRL 5+, pilot or demonstration scale.
• Strong hands-on analytical experience with several of the following:
• FTIR
• XRD
• SEM/EDS
• BET
• TGA/DSC
• GC-MS
• Strong capability in experimental design, process optimisation, troubleshooting and data interpretation.
• Comfortable working in a fast-moving environment where priorities are driven by achieving industrial scale.

What We Are Looking For

We are particularly interested in scientists who have moved beyond purely academic research and can demonstrate that they have turned chemistry into a reliable, repeatable and scalable industrial process.

The successful candidate should be equally comfortable designing an experiment, interpreting analytical data, troubleshooting a failed process and working alongside engineers to make the chemistry operate at larger scale.