Junior Process Chemist / Engineer (Aerogel), London UK London, England
Job description
Company Profile
Thermulon is an impact driven team of entrepreneurs and scientists developing a high-performance, fire-safe building insulation material. With 17% of the UK’s emissions coming directly from operating our buildings, there’s a massive need for new affordable insulation materials for the world to hit NetZero 2050. Our contribution is the advanced nanoporous material coming out of our lab: aerogel. Aerogels are the most insulating materials known to science and we believe they’ll be at the centre of the green transition which is taking place today. At its heart – Thermulon is a process engineering company developing and scaling new chemical methodology to make aerogel powders in a more efficient manner, reducing their price.
Established in 2019, Thermulon is backed by high-impact VCs (incl. Deep Science Ventures, Sustainable Ventures and Sky Ocean Ventures), as well as a strong community of angel & crowdfunding investors. We are also proud to be supported by Innovate UK and our technology has been recognized by organisations including the Cleantech Group (50 to Watch list for 2021), Futurebuild (Great Innovation Pitch), the Royal Society of Chemistry (Emerging Tech Prize) and the Royal Academy of Engineering (1851 Enterprise Fellowship).
Our Values
Thermulon strives to develop the next generation of scientists and entrepreneurs by giving them the opportunity to learn cutting-edge laboratory techniques in a highly collaborative and dynamic environment.
- We care about supporting and training our staff to enable them to grow in their careers, whether it’s through exposure to the inner runnings of the business or formal training courses.
- We value self-awareness and the desire to learn from each other as we all grow in our careers.
- We care about spending time with our friends and family and work in a time efficient manner accordingly.
Job Profile
Based in labs in London; we are seeking an ambitious and talented chemist or chemical engineer to aid in all aspects of Thermulon’s in-lab process development. You will work closely with Thermulon’s technical team (Chemists & Engineers) on the development, optimisation and improvement of aerogel process chemistry and production equipment, as well as working on product analysis, data collection and reporting.
Responsibilities
- Aiding senior engineers & chemists in the operation of Thermulon’s chemistry and process equipment including:
- Reagent preparation and running flask-based experiments
- Setup, takedown and operation of benchtop reactors
- Management of ancillary equipment and waste
- Operating analytical equipment for silica aerogel product
- Data collection, analysis and reporting for process experiments
- Involvement in bi-weekly technical meetings for engineering strategy & goal-setting
- Continuous improvement of lab practices, experimentation & health and safety
Experience
We welcome applicants that don’t necessarily tick all the boxes. If you feel that you tick most of them and are motivated and willing to learn the rest, we encourage you to apply.
Technical Requirements
- BSc or MSc in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering – required
- Experience working in-lab on wet chemical processes / reactions - required
- Experience working with benchtop chemical reactors – beneficial
- Knowledge of silica-based chemistry – beneficial
Personal requirements
- Excited to join a fast-moving start-up team
- Looking to grow with the company through rapid expansion
- Quick to learn, pick up and critically evaluate information
- Ability to keep accurate and diligent records
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to work independently, prioritise own tasks and bring fresh ideas
- Commitment to lab health & safety
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Diversity and Inclusion statement
We are especially keen to encourage applications and interest from individuals underrepresented in the deep tech and climate space. Climate change and climate justice is both a social and inclusion issue. We especially welcome applicants with experience across all equality and inclusion challenges and are keen for applicants who may have different experiences to those exactly specified in the application.
Job type: full time, London based, 12 month contract with potential to become permanent.
Salary: £25-35k, depending on experience
Benefits: 20 days holiday (plus bank holidays), meaningful equity in the business via the tax-optimised EMI scheme, contributions towards ethical pension scheme, Employee Assistance Programme
Job Type: Full-time
Salary: £25,000.00-£35,000.00 per year
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
Ability to commute/relocate:
- London, W11 1EJ: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):
- Please describe in no more than 5 bullet points why you wish to join Thermulon
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: One location
