At a Glance
- Tasks: Optimise and validate pyrolysis systems while working hands-on in a live plant environment.
- Company: Innovative company focused on carbon removal and sustainable technology.
- Benefits: Full-time role with opportunities for hands-on experience and career growth.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team dedicated to sustainability and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on climate change by improving waste-to-energy systems.
- Qualifications: Degree in Chemical Engineering and experience in process engineering required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Location: Royall Wootton Bassett
Reports to: Site Manager
Hours of Work: Full-time, site-based (3–4 days/week minimum)
Direct Reports: None
Role Summary: Own the performance, modelling and validation of our pyrolysis systems at Royal Wootton Bassett, while contributing to their development and scale-up across a broader carbon removal platform. You will work hands-on with a live plant, combining process modelling, operational support and engineering judgement to optimise performance and improve system design. As a multi-skilled engineer within the site team, you will support operations, maintenance and safe systems of work, while helping turn a working plant into a repeatable system that delivers measurable climate impact at scale.
Why this matters: We are building systems that remove carbon from the atmosphere and turn waste into a stable, long-term carbon store. Royal Wootton Bassett is where these systems are proven, improved and prepared for deployment. Your work will turn a working plant into a repeatable system that delivers measurable climate impact at scale.
Key responsibilities and accountabilities:
- Plant operation, maintenance and optimisation
- Work directly on our Royal Wootton Bassett pyrolysis facility
- Monitor, troubleshoot and optimise plant performance across varying conditions
- Support day-to-day operations and maintenance activities alongside the site team
- Assist with fault finding, basic maintenance tasks and system interventions where required
- Adjust process parameters based on real-time performance and test outputs
- Support commissioning, integration and testing of new systems and upgrades
- Conduct flue gas analysis and use outputs to inform process performance and optimisation
- Process modelling and system design
- Build and maintain process models using Aspen (mass and energy balance, system optimisation)
- Translate plant data into model improvements and design insights
- Support design and performance validation of new and existing pyrolysis systems
- Contribute to process design documentation, calculations and system specifications
- Lab testing and material analysis
- Conduct hands-on testing (e.g. moisture content, carbon content using muffle furnace)
- Analyse feedstock and biochar outputs to understand system performance
- Use lab data to inform process improvements and modelling assumptions
- Engineering development and scale-up
- Contribute to the design and development of new pyrolysis systems and projects
- Support technical reviews of technologies and external partners
- Participate in safety assessments (HAZOP, risk assessments) and change processes
- Data, monitoring and MRV support
- Support the design and validation of monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) systems
- Ensure process data can be accurately captured, interpreted, and used
- Work closely with the carbon team to ensure outputs are technically robust
- Site systems, safety and team support
- Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) and risk assessments (RAs)
- Support the development of safe systems of work and site documentation
- Contribute to training and upskilling of site personnel
- Ensure compliance with site procedures, permits and safety requirements
What we are looking for:
- Core requirements
- Degree in Chemical Engineering or a related discipline
- Experience in process engineering within industrial, energy, waste or chemical environments
- Strong grounding in heat and mass balance and process behaviour
- Experience with process modelling tools (Aspen strongly preferred)
- Comfortable working hands-on in a plant environment
- Technical Experience:
- Experience with process safety (HAZOP, HAZID, risk assessments)
- Familiarity with CDM regulations and engineering project environments
- Exposure to control systems (PLC, HMI, DCS)
- Ability to interpret and work with process data and instrumentation
- Experience contributing to plant commissioning or modification
- Valuable experience (not essential)
- Pyrolysis, thermal processes or energy-from-waste systems
- High-temperature or solids-handling processes
- CAD or engineering drawing review capability
- Lab testing, materials analysis or process validation work
- Chartered status or working towards it
You will love this role if you:
- Want to work on a real system and see the results of your work immediately
- Enjoy improving and refining processes through testing, data and iteration
- Are motivated by taking something that works and making it scalable
- Like combining hands-on engineering with modelling and system thinking
- Care about building technology that has a clear, practical impact on climate
Process Engineer – Pyrolysis & Carbon Systems employer: A Healthier Earth
At our Royal Wootton Bassett facility, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture. Our team is dedicated to making a tangible impact on climate change through cutting-edge pyrolysis technology, offering employees opportunities for professional growth and hands-on experience in a dynamic environment. With a strong focus on safety, continuous improvement, and employee development, we empower our engineers to contribute meaningfully to our mission of transforming waste into sustainable solutions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Process Engineer – Pyrolysis & Carbon Systems
✨Get Involved in Local Environmental Initiatives
Dive into your local environmental scenes, like community clean-up projects or eco-focused events. Not only will you meet like-minded people, but it's a surefire way to showcase your passion and skills in environmental engineering tech.
✨Join Industry-Specific Organisations
Check out organisations like the Institution of Environmental Engineers for networking opportunities and resources. They often host events and seminars that can help us connect with key players in the industry, including potential employers like A Healthier Earth.
✨Show Off Your Projects and Passion
Create a portfolio that highlights any relevant projects, whether it's coursework, internships, or personal initiatives. Share this online, perhaps even on platforms like GitHub or your own website, to grab the attention of hiring managers looking for talent like us.
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We think you need these skills to ace Process Engineer – Pyrolysis & Carbon Systems
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for a role in environmental engineering tech, make sure to highlight your technical skills like CAD software proficiency, data analysis, or modelling techniques. These are essential for the job and should stand out in your CV and cover letter, showing how you can contribute to projects at A Healthier Earth.
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Tailor Your Application to the Role:Don't just send a generic CV and cover letter. Make sure to tailor your application to the specific role of Process Engineer – Pyrolysis & Carbon Systems at A Healthier Earth. Highlight experiences that align directly with the job description and give concrete examples of your work to demonstrate that you’re the right fit for a full-time position.
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How to prepare for a job interview at A Healthier Earth
✨Brush Up on Environmental Regulations
Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest environmental regulations and standards. In an environmental engineering tech role at A Healthier Earth, you might be asked specific questions about compliance measures, so understanding these will definitely give you an edge.
✨Showcase Your Technical Skills
Prepare to demonstrate your proficiency with relevant tools and software, such as AutoCAD or GIS. You might be given a practical problem to solve during the interview, so it’s a great idea to brush up on these skills and perhaps even bring a portfolio of your projects to showcase your technical prowess.
✨Highlight Your Passion for Sustainability
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✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Be ready for behavioural questions that assess how you handle teamwork, conflict, and project management. Think of examples from your studies or practical experiences where you tackled challenges effectively, showcasing both your technical and interpersonal skills.
