PhD - Polymer Engineer (per 1.6.2026)

Cyclups BV; Netherlands; Remote; EUR 75,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Cyclups BV is transitioning from development to deployment in Den Bosch, NL. The PhD Polymer Engineer will translate polymer science into robust, industrial-grade materials suitable for production, products, and real-world use.

You will design biobased polymer formulations, lead extrusion and processing optimization, and ensure performance validates across mechanical, thermal, and rheological aspects. Collaboration with suppliers and R&D is key to success.

Qualifications

• PhD in Polymer Engineering, Materials Science, or Chemical Engineering.
• Strong background in polymer formulations and processing.
• Experience with extrusion and rheology analysis.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize biobased polymer formulations.
• Lead compounding, extrusion, and processing optimization.
• Analyze mechanical, thermal, and rheological performance.
• Troubleshoot material behavior in industrial production.
• Improve consistency, scalability, and cost–performance balance.
• Collaborate with suppliers, production partners, and R&D teams.
• Support certification, compliance, and performance validation.

Skills

Polymer engineering

Rheology

Process optimization

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

PhD in Polymer Engineering, Materials Science, or Chemical Engineering

Tools

Extrusion equipment

Characterization tools

Job description

Engineering circular polymers from lab to industrial scale

Location:Den Bosch, The Netherlands
Employment:40 hrs/week
Salary range:Competitive, based on experience

About Cyclups — Engineering the end of plastic waste

Cyclups develops high-performance, compostable polymer materials made from agricultural side streams. Our patented technology breaks materials down to their building blocks and rebuilds them into polymers designed for performance, processing, and natural end-of-life.

We don’t experiment for the sake of science.
We engineer for scale, reliability, and impact.

This role matters

Cyclups is moving from development to deployment.

As aPhD Polymer Engineer, you are responsible for translating polymer science intorobust, repeatable, industrial-grade materials. You ensure our compounds perform not just in theory — but in production, in products, and in the real world.

Without this role, innovation stalls.
With it, materials become markets.

What you will drive – From polymer science to production

You take ownership of the technical backbone of our materials:

• Design and optimize biobased polymer formulations
• Lead compounding, extrusion, and processing optimization
• Analyze mechanical, thermal, and rheological performance
• Troubleshoot material behavior in industrial production
• Improve consistency, scalability, and cost-performance balance
• Collaborate with suppliers, production partners, and R&D teams
• Support certification, compliance, and performance validation

You bridgeresearch, engineering, and industrial reality.

You are the right fit if

• You hold a PhD in Polymer Engineering, Materials Science, or Chemical Engineering
• You think in systems, not isolated experiments
• You enjoy solving messy, real-world material problems
• You balance scientific depth with engineering pragmatism
• You take ownership and push solutions forward

We are not looking for someone who only analyzes.
We are looking for someone whobuilds, fixes, and improves.

What we offer

• A senior technical role in a mission-driven materials scale-up
• Direct influence on product performance and industrial scaling
• Freedom to shape materials, processes, and standards
• Close collaboration with leadership and production partners
• Competitive salary and growth perspective

Ready to engineer materials that replace plastics for good?