Process Engineer

About Cocoon

At Cocoon, we’re developing low-carbon construction materials for the builders of tomorrow. Steel and cement account for nearly 15% of global CO₂ emissions, and decarbonising these industries requires completely new approaches to mix design, testing, and implementation.

Responsibilities:

The Role

We’re looking for a Process Engineer to support process design, development trials, and early-stage scale-up of Cocoon’s next-generation slag activation system. You’ll work closely with process and mechanical engineers, material scientists, researchers, and technicians across lab, pilot, and plant environments.

This is an early-career, hands-on role with strong exposure to real-world engineering — from preparing design documentation and running development trials, to supporting equipment installation, commissioning, and process safety activities. You’ll build your technical capability while contributing directly to Cocoon’s scale-up journey.

Responsibilities

Process Engineering & Safety

• Participate in process hazard reviews and assist in identifying and mitigating process safety risks.
• Maintain a safety-first mindset in all engineering activities and promote a proactive safety culture.
• Prepare and update engineering documents, including PFDs, P&IDs, mass and energy balances, and equipment specifications.
• Support process calculations and design work under guidance from senior engineers.

Development Trials & Scale-Up Support

• Organise and run lab and pilot-scale development trials with cross-functional teams.
• Gather, analyse, and interpret data to support process understanding and scale-up decisions.
• Support design coordination, installation, and commissioning of new equipment and processes.
• Build knowledge of standard process engineering deliverables, tools, and methodologies through hands-on work and mentorship.

Coordination & Reporting

• Liaise with equipment suppliers, contractors, and internal stakeholders to gather technical data and support procurement and delivery processes.
• Support the achievement of project milestones by contributing to technical reports, presentations, and design documentation.
• Communicate clearly with engineers, scientists, technicians, and external partners.
• Support development trials, installation, and testing activities in the UK and internationally.

You’ll Succeed In This Role If You…

• Hold a degree in Chemical or Process Engineering and have up to 3 years of industrial experience (or relevant internships/placements).
• Have a solid foundation in core chemical engineering principles, including mass and energy balances, thermodynamics, and transport phenomena.
• Are enthusiastic about hands-on engineering and motivated to learn through practical experience.
• Are organised, detail-oriented, and willing to take ownership of tasks in a lean team.
• Communicate effectively and enjoy collaborating across disciplines and environments.

Bonus qualities

• Exposure to lab or pilot plant operations or industrial process environments.
• Familiarity with standard engineering documentation (e.g. PFDs, H&MBs, equipment specifications).
• Understanding of process safety concepts such as HAZOP or FMEA.
• Exposure to pyrometallurgy, refractory systems, high-temperature processes, minerals processing, or solids handling equipment.

Tagged as: chemical engineering, engineer