Product Development Technician (Biopolymers)

Location: St Asaph, North Wales

Salary: £25,000 – £35,000 depending on experience and capability

Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week

Contract Type: two-years fixed-term

Reports to: Laboratory Operations Manager

About PlantSea

PlantSea has developed a new class of seaweed-derived polymer designed to replace synthetic plastics in water-soluble packaging and delivery systems. We are a venture-backed, UKRI award-winning company working to bring genuinely plastic-free materials to market. Following significant recent funding and commercial progress, we are scaling our technology from laboratory development into pilot and industrial production. Our work is highly multidisciplinary, sitting at the intersection of chemical engineering, materials science, chemistry, and biotechnology.

The Role

We are seeking a motivated and hands-on Product Development Technician to support experimental work, product development, and pilot-scale trials. This is a practical, multidisciplinary role focused on the execution of experiments, generation of high-quality data, and support of scale-up activities. The workload may vary significantly depending on project priorities and may include:

• Seaweed biomass processing and extraction
• Sample preparation and analytical chemistry
• Film and prototype production
• Material testing and product development
• Preparation of samples for internal evaluation and customer trials

The successful candidate will work closely with the Senior Laboratory Technician and Laboratory Operations Manager, supporting day-to-day laboratory delivery while contributing to the development of scalable processes and materials. This role would suit someone who enjoys practical work, learns quickly, and is comfortable operating in a fast-paced and evolving environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute laboratory experiments across extraction, formulation, and material development
• Support polymer processing, including film production and prototype fabrication
• Process seaweed biomass and prepare materials for downstream use
• Prepare samples and materials for internal testing, customer evaluation, and development work
• Support experimental activities across multiple concurrent projects and priorities

Analytical Testing and Data Handling

• Prepare samples for analytical testing and support analytical workflows where required
• Accurately record experimental data, observations, and results with full traceability
• Maintain clear, organised, and reproducible laboratory records
• Contribute to structured data handling and reporting to support technical review and decision-making

Material Testing and Product Development

• Support material characterisation and performance testing, such as solubility, sealing, stability, thickness, or other relevant physical and functional assessments
• Assist with iterative product and prototype development activities
• Contribute to the preparation and testing of films, capsules, and other development samples

Laboratory Operations and Standards

• Maintain high standards of laboratory organisation, cleanliness, and discipline
• Label, store, and manage samples correctly
• Support inventory management and general laboratory readiness
• Operate laboratory and pilot equipment safely and effectively
• Follow laboratory procedures, risk assessments, and health and safety requirements at all times

Problem Solving and Continuous Improvement

• Identify issues arising during experiments or day-to-day laboratory work and raise them promptly
• Contribute to troubleshooting and practical problem solving
• Support improvements to workflows, methods, and laboratory efficiency
• Show willingness to try, learn, adapt, and improve in order to achieve results

Skills and Experience

• Degree or equivalent experience in chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, biotechnology, or a related discipline
• Strong attention to detail and a disciplined approach to data recording
• Ability to work across varied technical tasks and changing priorities
• Strong work ethic and willingness to contribute in a hands-on environment
• Good problem-solving skills and a proactive mindset
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Experience with HPLC, spectroscopy, rheometry, or other analytical techniques
• Experience with materials science, materials testing, or prototype testing
• Experience handling biomass, natural feedstocks, or extraction processes
• Experience in a start-up, product development, or scale-up environment
• Confidence handling structured data and using Excel or similar tools for data analysis and reporting

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for someone who is:

• Practical and hands-on
• Comfortable working at pace
• Curious and willing to learn quickly
• Resilient and able to work through technical challenges
• Detail-oriented and committed to high-quality work
• Willing to take initiative and see tasks through to completion

This role will suit someone who enjoys doing real technical work and wants to be part of a team building something new and creating impact.

Impact and Opportunity

This role offers the opportunity to contribute directly to the development of next-generation plastic-free materials. You will be working on technology with the potential to replace fossil-derived materials in major consumer and industrial applications, helping reduce plastic pollution while supporting the transition to better-performing sustainable alternatives. As part of a growing technical team, you will gain exposure to a wide range of activities across laboratory development, scale-up, testing, and product development. This is a valuable opportunity for someone who wants to build broad technical capability in an ambitious and fast-moving company. At PlantSea, strong performance, ownership, and growth are recognised.

What We Offer

• Salary of £25,000 – £35,000, depending on experience and capability
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge sustainable material technology
• Hands-on involvement in process development, scale-up, and product testing
• Exposure to a wide range of disciplines across chemistry, materials science, engineering, and biotechnology
• Opportunity to grow with a scaling company and develop your career over time
• A collaborative, ambitious, and impact-driven working environment
• The chance to contribute to meaningful environmental change through commercially relevant innovation

Additional Information

This is a full-time, on-site laboratory role based in St Asaph, North Wales. Candidates must have the right to work in the UK. PlantSea is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to building a diverse team and encouraging applications from candidates of all backgrounds.