Process Engineer

Uplift360; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 81,000 - 121,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

37 days holiday

Family-friendly policies

Job summary

Uplift360 is seeking a scale-up engineer to own the experimental programme, translating lab learnings into pilot-plant conditions. You will design trials, manage variables, and drive robust scale-up at the interface between chemistry and process engineering.

You will contribute to equipment definitions, safety practices, and documentation to support strategic material development for Europe’s defence and industry.

Qualifications

• Structured experimental programmes design
• Hands-on pilot or lab-scale operations experience
• Experience with chemical/process variables and engineering variables
• Knowledge of safety principles in process development

Responsibilities

• Define and own the structured experimental programme
• Translate lab conditions to pilot-scale parameters
• Identify and resolve scale-up challenges
• Develop SOPs and technical reports
• Contribute to process design deliverables and equipment specs

Skills

Experimental design

Pilot plant operations

Process variable control

Process safety awareness

Education

Chemical engineering

Tools

PFDs

P&IDs

Mass balances

Job description

This role is centred around scale-up engineering – taking learnings from laboratory, trialling and testing them at scale before they can be integrated into a full pilot line. The role takes ownership of the experimental programme and scale-up translation workstream, freeing the broader team to focus on operational delivery.

You will sit at the interface between the chemistry team and the pilot plant- defining what process questions need answering, designing and running the trials that answer them, and translating outcomes into process decisions.

About Uplift360

Uplift360 is an Advanced Materials Company securing sovereign supply for Europe’s defence, security and vital industries. We secure and produce critical advanced materials, including carbon fibre and aramids, for European defence and industry by sourcing, recovering and regenerating high-value materials into secure industrial supply chains. As geopolitical instability, supply chain fragility and industrial competition intensify, access to advanced materials is becoming a defining strategic advantage. Uplift360 is building the infrastructure and technology required to secure it.

What You’ll Do:

• Develop the structured experimental programme for ChemR process development-defining what questions need answering, designing the trials that answer them rigorously, and ensuring outcomes are translated into actionable process decisions
• Investigate both chemical process variables (temperature, solvent conditions, reagent concentrations, reaction kinetics) and engineering variables (residence time distribution, mixing, heat transfer, auxiliary process behaviour)
• Apply sound experimental design principles: structured work packages, controlled variables, statistically meaningful datasets, and clear outcome definition
• Translate lab-scale ChemR process conditions into pilot-scale operating parameters
• Identify and resolve scale-up challenges: mass transfer limitations, heat transfer behaviour, mixing uniformity, residence time distribution
• Contribute to commissioning of new process equipment and auxiliary systems
• Develop and maintain SOPs for process development activitiesConduct root cause analysis when processes deviate
• Contribute to process design deliverables including PFDs, P&IDs, and mass balances
• Provide process engineering inputs to equipment specifications and procurement decision
• Generate technical reports summarising process development findings and recommendations
• Contribute technical content to grant applications and funding reports where required

These key accountabilities listed above describes an overview of the post and is not intended to be exhaustive.

What We’re Looking For

• Degree in chemical engineering, process engineering, or closely related discipline with a solid grounding in reaction engineering, mass and energy balances, and unit operations
• Demonstrated ability to design and own structured experimental programmes
• Hands-on pilot or lab-scale process operations experience
• Experience with solvent-based, reactive, or dissolution chemistry processes
• Familiarity with process safety principles- HAZOP participation, risk assessment, COSHH
• NEBOSH Process Safety Management or equivalent

Why Join Uplift360?

We are a family friendly company that believes in the importance of supporting our employees to find and maintain an excellent work life balance.

We offer:

Comprehensive holiday package:

Generous holiday allowance, with a policy that encourages taking time off to recharge- 37 days including UK bank holidays

Equal Opportunity Statement

We are an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons.

Reasonable Adjustments

We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process and you will be asked whether you require any during your application.

Pre-Employment Checks

As part of the application process, this role is subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks.These may include verification of identity, eligibility to work in the UK, references, and disclosure of any unspent criminal convictions. By applying for this position, candidates agree to these checks being carried out.