Nova Biochem - Scale Up Engineer in Nottingham

Salary: To be negotiated, based on experience

Location: Nottingham, UK

About Nova Biochem

Nova Biochem is a climate-tech company developing breakthrough technology to transform pulping and agricultural side streams into high-value, bio-based chemicals. Our proprietary hydrothermal depolymerisation process converts lignin-rich side streams like black liquor into sustainable aromatic building blocks for coatings, plastics, and resins — replacing fossil-based inputs and reducing carbon emissions. Following successful TRL5 and TRL6 prototypes, we are now getting ready to design a TRL8 demonstration plant with an annual throughput of 5,000 tonnes. This will be a modular, containerised facility integrated into an existing pulp and paper site. We are working closely with an external engineering firm to deliver the concept study and detailed design.

Key Responsibilities

• The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing Nova’s internal technical delivery for the TRL8 demonstration plant project.
• You will manage the interface with our external engineering partner and ensure Nova delivers all internal inputs, reviews, and actions in a timely and structured way; whilst ensuring that external engineering partner understands our requirements and produces relevant and required outputs.
• Act as Nova’s point of contact for the external engineering contractor.
• Review and provide feedback on engineering deliverables (PFDs, P&IDs, layout drawings, equipment specs).
• Consolidate and communicate empirical data from TRL5/6 to inform design assumptions.
• Track, document, and coordinate Nova’s internal deliverables (test data, design choices, configuration feedback).
• Liaise with vendors for component specifications, pricing, and timelines.
• Work closely with pulp and paper partners to ensure their requirements are met.

Candidate Requirements

• We are seeking a sharp, technically fluent engineer with direct experience scaling up chemical or industrial systems.
• The ideal candidate will have done similar scaling projects in the past or will have previously worked at an EPC(M) or design engineering firm.
• Willing to work in a fast-paced and quickly changing environment of a start-up.
• 3-5 years of experience in process or scale-up engineering, ideally in chemicals, bio-based, or clean-tech sectors.
• Experience working at or with an EPC(M) firm or process design consultancy.
• Track record scaling systems from pilot/lab to commercial or demo scale (e.g. from kg to tons per hour).
• Strong working knowledge of PFDs, P&IDs, mass and energy balances, and equipment layouts.
• Familiarity with modular or containerised design approaches.
• Comfortable working both independently and within a collaborative team.
• High level of integrity and personal accountability.
• Experience working with high-temperature or high-pressure processes (especially with high pressure team, supercritical water).
• Experience working with pulp & paper and/or nuclear industry.

Why Join Us?

At Nova Biochem, you’ll join a small, ambitious team translating breakthrough science into tangible impact. If you’re motivated by purpose and excited to turn scientific breakthroughs into real-world impact, we’d love to hear from you.