Deep Tech Start-Up | Sustainable Chemical Innovation | Leadership Opportunity

Your Mission

Stax – Deep Tech Recruitment Partners is representing an ambitious early-stage start-up that is pioneering a novel approach to chemical recycling. Moving beyond traditional pyrolysis and gasification, this company is developing a breakthrough technology to convert mixed plastic waste into high-value chemical building blocks in a sustainable and cost-efficient way.

We are seeking a Senior Chemical or Process Engineer to lead the development and scale-up of this cutting-edge technology. You will play a pivotal role in the transition from lab-scale to a demonstration plant (100-200 kg/day input plastic), laying the foundation for future industrial deployment. This is an exciting opportunity for a hands-on and adaptable leader who thrives in dynamic environments and is eager to drive impactful change in the chemical industry.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the scale-up of lab-based technology to a fully operational demonstration unit processing ~100-200 kg of plastic waste per day, including:
• Detailed engineering and process integration
• Equipment specification and procurement
• Construction, assembly, and optimization of the demonstration unit
• Ensuring safe and efficient operations
• Refine chemical engineering designs to improve process understanding and inform strategic decision-making.
• Develop and manage key industry collaborations and partnerships to support scale-up and future commercialization.
• Build and mentor a high-performing team of chemical engineers, growing the team to 5-10 members within three years.
• Lead or support advanced process modeling using Aspen Plus and/or reactor fluid dynamics tools to optimize efficiency and performance.
• Actively participate in pilot plant construction during the first two years, transitioning towards a strategic leadership role as the company scales.
• Collaborate closely with the engineering and scientific teams in a “one-team” mindset to drive innovation and execution.

Your Background

• Minimum 5 years of experience in chemical engineering, ideally within the chemical or petrochemical industry. Experience in a start-up environment is a plus.
• Proven track record in process scale-up from lab to industrial scale, including detailed engineering and reactor design, with experience managing budgets and timelines.
• Strong team leadership skills, including supervising and mentoring chemical engineers.
• Deep understanding of scaling parameters such as mass transport, rheology/viscosity, kinetics, filtration, distillation, and recrystallization.
• Proficiency in process modeling and simulation (e.g., Aspen Plus or equivalent tools) and reactor fluid dynamics; strong expertise is an advantage.
• Experience with chemical recycling, high-pressure reactions, or corrosive environments is beneficial.
• Familiarity with bubble column reactors is a strong plus.
• Fluent in English; proficiency in German is a plus.

Your Mindset

• Innovative & Creative – Eager to solve complex problems in ways that have never been done before.
• Impact-Driven – Passionate about sustainability and fighting climate change.
• Adaptable & Flexible – Thrives in the fast-paced, evolving environment of a start-up.
• Collaborative – Believes in teamwork to tackle the world’s biggest challenges.
• Safety-Focused – Committed to maintaining a strong safety culture in chemical engineering.
• Growth-Oriented – Ready to take on increasing responsibilities as the company scales.

This role is a rare opportunity to take a hands-on leadership position in an innovative deep tech start-up and play a key role in shaping the future of sustainable chemical processes. If you are passionate about engineering, scale-up challenges, and making a real-world impact, we’d love to hear from you!