Product Developer

Job title: Product Developer

Reporting to: Product Manager

Kelpi is a world-leading sustainable materials innovation company, using seaweed and natural plant-based oils to create a unique coating material that provides the sort of barrier to moisture that could previously only be achieved by fossil fuel plastics. This renewably sourced coating is then applied to paper and card to create recyclable packaging which is bio-degradable. Even if it ends up at sea, Kelpi-coated paper and card will break down naturally, leaving no toxins nor microplastics behind.

Kelpi is looking for a Product Developer to join our small but rapidly growing team comprising world-class scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs.

What we are looking for

We are looking for a self-motivated, creative team player who is passionate about sustainability and wants to make a positive impact in the world. Each member of our team helps shape the growth and culture of Kelpi, so we hope that you will take an active role in how we develop our strategy, our products, and how we work together.

You’ll have autonomy to perform your role and will have a key position at the heart of a purpose-driven business. You therefore should be organised, have a strong work ethic, and show an innovative and methodical approach to problem solving.

You should have:

• Demonstrable laboratory experience or a product development background
• An understanding of laboratory techniques and equipment commonly used in material science
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Engineering, Materials Science, or a related scientific field OR the equivalent experience (we don’t mind!)
• Demonstrable interest in sustainable materials, coatings, packaging, or related fields, with a proven focus on sustainability and innovation
• Excellent communication skills (and we will empower you to have the confidence to argue your case!)
• The collaboration skills to work with mixed projects teams in a fast-paced environment
• Eagerness to learn and contribute within a dynamic and agile team setting, bringing new ideas to life

Your role

As a Product Developer, you will play a crucial role in our agile and collaborative R&D environment. Your primary responsibilities will include hands-on sample preparation, lab-based tasks, and assisting in the development of innovative materials through working and communicating with the wider technical team. Your work will contribute directly to our mission of advancing sustainable solutions for coatings and packaging.

Tasks involve:

• Preparing and handling samples, following established protocols and procedures for experimentation and testing.
• Performing basic material testing, such as physical, chemical, and mechanical assessments, and recording accurate data.
• Where required, improving and redesigning current analytical methods to effectively demonstrate our product features. This could include finding and writing new methods or requesting particular pieces of equipment if needed.
• Collaborate with our multi-disciplinary technical team to determine how process changes and formulation might impact our final product.
• Design and create prototypes that effectively demonstrate our material’s properties.
• Supporting in the design and execution of experiments that contribute to improving the properties of our final product. Properties span a range of areas such as processability, barrier properties, aesthetics, or end of life.
• Supporting the Product Managers and commercial team in determining how we can translate market research findings and requirements into practical products/prototypes.
• Operating and maintaining laboratory equipment, ensuring cleanliness, accuracy, and safety compliance.
• Organisation and maintenance of an orderly laboratory environment, including inventory management and waste disposal.
• Compilation and analysis of experimental results, generating reports and summaries for internal and external stakeholders.
• Contributing to brainstorming sessions and team discussions by sharing insights and observations.
• Learning and applying appropriate safety protocols and procedures, ensuring the well-being of yourself and others in the lab.

What we offer

• In addition to a competitive compensation package and growth opportunities within a startup environment, the Product Developer will participate in our Employee Share Ownership Programme.
• We offer additional benefits, such as a health cashback scheme, cycle scheme, and enhanced family-related leave and pay.
• You will have access to a generous budget for personal and professional development.
• A work life balance is important to us – we offer 25 days annual leave (in addition to the 8 bank holidays), additional ‘Kelpi’ days, charity days and social events.
• Opportunities to contribute to meaningful work that is addressing the world’s biggest sustainability challenges.

Where you will be based

This is a full-time position based at our modern lab and office space in central Bristol.

We’d be delighted to talk a little more about working at Kelpi. If you are interested in joining us, please send your CV and a short statement (text, video, or audio) telling us why you are the right person for Kelpi, along with your salary expectations, availability and right to work status, to calling@kelpi.net (because this is not a job, it’s a calling).

We are dedicated to providing an equal, supportive and inclusive culture and embrace a diverse range of talent to contribute to that. Therefore, we welcome all applications – regardless of gender (including gender reassignment), sex or sexual orientation, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origin), religion/belief, disability or age.

If you have a medical condition or an individual need for an adjustment to our process, and you believe this may affect your ability to be at your best – please let us know so we can talk about how we can best support you and make any adjustments that may be needed. In your application, please feel free to note which pronouns you use.