About the Job

🎯 Materials Engineer
🌍 London, N4
🏛️ 4 days in our office, 1 day working from home
💰 £40-50k per annum

Join Shellworks as a Materials Engineer and help us materialise a better future by eliminating plastic pollution.

About Shellworks

Developed for a throwaway culture, plastics have caused significant pollution to our natural environments with 90% of all plastics ever created never being recycled. More so, recent studies have identified that plastics impact goes beyond pollution to chemicals and micro-plastics that impact human and environmental health.

We believe there must be a better way and our first innovation Vivomer does just that, if nature made a plastic this would be it. Vivomer, a polymer made by microorganisms, behaves just like plastic in use, but degrades upon disposal in any natural environment. Developed through cutting-edge material science, mechanical engineering, design, and operations, Vivomer represents a groundbreaking step towards a pollution-free future.

The nature of our work is frequently described as impossible, but if like us, you’re driven by the challenge to prove that there is a better way to do things, join us. You will play a critical role in developing the future of materials, how products are created and directly contribute to reducing plastic pollution.

The Opportunity

This is a unique opportunity to work on scaling the future of materials inspired by nature. When you join us you’ll get to:

• Work in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment with a talented and passionate team.

• Lead technology transfer from our pilot facility to our production partners and troubleshoot / solve manufacturing issues.

• Support in-house programmes and new product / material development.

• Lead process optimisation and assist with product defect and material analysis

• Work with suppliers on new materials, including incoming material analysis and testing

Our Ideal Candidate

Must haves

• 2+ years of experience working with processing equipment in a materials manufacturing environment.

• A results-focussed, proactive mindset and willingness to learn new skills is essential. The role will involve ‘hands-on’ work.

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to present information to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to correlate real-world data to a ‘cause and effect’ and propose simple, scalable solutions.

Nice to haves

• Proficiency in polymer processing techniques such as extrusion, injection moulding, compounding and blow moulding.

• Experience using polymer characterisation techniques, including thermal analysis, rheology, mechanical testing, and microscopy.

• The role will involve travel within the UK and abroad to perform projects, visit suppliers and customers.

Our Benefits

🌴 21 days holiday + birthday off + 27-31st December, in addition to all statutory and public holidays.
📚 Opportunities for growth and development as we expand and scale our impact.
🎉 Regular social events and fully stocked office kitchen
🐚 Part of a tightly knit team aiming to make a meaningful social impact.

Join Our Mission

Becoming a part of Shellworks means being part of a team that’s passionate about sustainability and innovation. Our world-class team includes experts in materials science and visionary entrepreneurs dedicated to creating a better future. Together, we’re redefining what’s possible.

Are you ready to help us lead the way in sustainable materials? Apply now and be part of something truly impactful.