Process R&D Specialist – Minerals and Metals in Dunfermline

Forge Minerals is an Edinburgh-based technology company developing cleaner and more secure ways to produce essential minerals and chemicals. Our aim is to reduce the environmental impact of mineral production while strengthening the supply chains on which modern industry depends.

We are looking for an experienced, commercially minded Process R&D Specialist to lead hands-on development work: turning promising mineral resources and waste-derived feedstocks into scalable, low-carbon extraction and processing routes. The role would suit an applied scientist or engineer with experience developing chemical or hydrometallurgical processes, particularly for minerals, metals or waste-derived materials.

You will design and run laboratory-scale experiments, interpret the results and help decide which opportunities should progress. This is a hands-on, commercially focused role: you will combine scientific rigour with an understanding of scale-up, process economics and the value a successful process could create.

Relevant Experience

Strong candidates are likely to bring depth in one or more of the following areas:

• Applied Chemistry: Reaction and analytical chemistry supporting mineral extraction and processing, from reagent selection and kinetics to synthesis and product-quality development.
• Hydrometallurgy: Aqueous processes for recovering minerals and metals from ores, concentrates and waste streams.
• Minerals and Metals: Characterisation and processing of mineral resources, concentrates and secondary materials, including critical minerals and technology metals.

Key Responsibilities

Alongside the technical work above, you will:

• Take primary responsibility for relevant bench work, from sample preparation and experimental set-up to analysis.
• Design efficient experimental programmes and use the results to recommend whether and how a project should progress.
• Maintain rigorous, reproducible records and support technical reporting and intellectual-property development.
• Work closely with the wider R&D team and provide technical guidance to laboratory colleagues.
• Plan and conduct all work safely, in accordance with COSHH and laboratory procedures.
• Keep abreast of relevant academic and industry developments in low-carbon mineral processing.
• Improve laboratory methods, experimental efficiency and the sustainable use of reagents.

About You

Essential

• A degree (BSc, MSc or PhD, as appropriate to your experience) in Chemistry, Extractive or Process Metallurgy, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or another relevant technical discipline.
• Demonstrable hands-on experience in applied laboratory or process development, ideally in an industrial, commercial or scale-up environment.
• Strong data analysis, interpretation and technical writing skills.
• A practical, collaborative and curious approach, with the judgement to balance scientific and commercial priorities.
• The right to work in the UK and willingness to work on-site at our Edinburgh Innovation Hub laboratory.

Desirable

• Experience in reaction chemistry, hydrometallurgy, mineral processing, extractive metallurgy or analytical method development.
• Experience assessing recovery, selectivity, reagent consumption or process economics.
• Experience working with ores, concentrates, industrial residues, waste streams or technology metals.
• Experience guiding technicians, junior scientists or external analytical partners.
• Experience translating laboratory results into pilot-scale requirements or process flowsheets.

Please use your covering note to highlight the parts of your experience that are most relevant to this role.

What We Offer

Benefits & Rewards

• Pension: employer contributions to our workplace pension from day one.
• Generous Leave: 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Climate Impact: work that contributes directly to cleaner, more secure mineral supply chains.
• Growth & Development: a personal learning and development plan, mentoring and clear progression milestones.
• Edinburgh Base: a modern, well-equipped laboratory and office with a collaborative, supportive team culture.

Encouraging a Wider Range of Applicants

We know that capable candidates do not always meet every listed requirement. Women and several other groups remain underrepresented in applied science and engineering, so we particularly encourage applications from people who may not see themselves reflected in every point above. If you can demonstrate strong applied ability and the potential to grow into the role, we would like to hear from you.

Equal Opportunities

Forge Minerals is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010. We are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process.

How to Apply

Please send your CV and a short covering note outlining your most relevant applied experience via our LinkedIn job post. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early applications are encouraged.