Pilot Plant Operator

Take ownership of day-to-day production and help an innovative clean technology process progress towards a larger demonstration facility. Adepto Technical Recruitment is recruiting a practical Pilot Plant Operator / Chemical Technician for a growing clean technology business in Nottingham. You will operate a CO₂ mineralisation pilot plant producing calcium carbonate and potassium sulphate. Your main responsibility will be to deliver consistent product quality and production quantities while keeping the plant running safely and reliably. This is a hands-on role covering the full production process—from preparing chemicals and operating reaction equipment through to filtration, drying and finished-product preparation.

The Role

Working closely with the operations, engineering and QC teams, you will:

• Run routine production, including plant start-up, monitoring and shutdown.
• Prepare chemical feedstocks and operate reactors, pumps, tanks and mixers.
• Operate CO₂ absorption equipment using amine solutions.
• Handle chemical liquids, powders and slurries.
• Run filtration, washing and drying equipment.
• Monitor and adjust process conditions to maintain quality, yield and production consistency.
• Take samples, record production data and coordinate testing with the QC team.
• Troubleshoot process and equipment problems.
• Carry out cleaning, inspections, basic repairs and preventative maintenance within your competence.
• Help improve plant reliability, efficiency and throughput.
• Support equipment installation, commissioning and increasing automation as the operation grows.

About You

You will ideally have around two to four years of practical experience in chemical processing, pilot plant operation or a relevant industrial production environment. We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• Hands-on experience with equipment such as reactors, pumps, mixers, filters or dryers.
• Confidence handling chemicals and managing production activities independently.
• An understanding of chemical reactions, filtration, crystallisation or drying.
• Practical troubleshooting and basic maintenance skills.
• Strong safety awareness and accurate record-keeping.
• A willingness to take responsibility for routine production, cleaning and operational improvements. Experience reading process drawings, using instrumentation or working with automated systems would be beneficial. A relevant technical qualification or degree is desirable, but practical plant experience, reliability and hands-on capability are the priorities. Why Apply? The technology is expected to progress towards demonstration-scale production over the next 12 months. You will have the opportunity to help improve the existing plant and support the installation and operation of a larger, increasingly automated facility. This role would suit a chemical process operator or technician who enjoys varied practical work, solving problems and seeing a production process through from start to finish. To discuss the opportunity in confidence, apply with your CV or contact Adepto Technical Recruitment