Location
Hackney Wick, London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£33,500 - £47,000 + EMI Share Options

About the Role
At Notpla, we are at the forefront of sustainable innovation, creating natural alternatives to single-use plastic packaging engineered to help build a healthier planet. Founded on the belief that nature knows best, we are an innovative, action-oriented scale-up developing and manufacturing uncompromisingly natural packaging solutions from seaweed and plants.

As a Coating Process Engineer in the Innovation team, you will develop breakthrough natural material technologies into scalable solutions. This role sits at the critical intersection of material science and industrial-scale coating processes, transforming innovative biomaterial solutions in the early stages into commercially viable packaging alternatives that replace single-use plastics.

This is an exciting time to join Notpla — we are on the brink of a record-breaking year for revenue and on track for major growth in the next 18–24 months. Following a recent Series A+ fundraise, we are scaling our growth and environmental impact faster than ever.

Beyond meaningful roles and a vibrant working environment, Notpla offers competitive compensation including EMI Share Options, a zero-carbon pension scheme, discounts with local businesses, and subsidised social activities. Our office-first hybrid working policy supports productivity while maintaining a dynamic and collaborative atmosphere. We are a social business with regular clubs and events, proud of our diverse, mission-driven community working together to make plastic disappear.

Led by strong values, all Notpla employees are encouraged to take ownership of their domain, enjoying a high degree of autonomy. Our aim is to build an inspiring culture reflected in our working policies, environment, and people.

As a Coating Process Engineer, your expertise in coating technologies, particularly extrusion coating and water-based coating systems, will be essential in bridging the gap between laboratory discovery and pilot-scale implementation. You will work hands-on in both the laboratory and pilot facilities, designing and executing coating trials, troubleshooting process challenges, and building technical knowledge that advances Notpla's mission across multiple concurrent projects.

You will operate shoulder-to-shoulder with material scientists, product designers, and business development managers, driving your own projects from concept through pilot-scale validation. You will also serve as a process engineering consultant to project teams across the Innovation portfolio, accelerating collective learning and expanding coating process capabilities throughout the organisation.

This role is for someone who sees process engineering as a creative discipline, where the challenge of making natural materials perform in existing industrial infrastructure is as exciting as the science of the materials themselves. You will pioneer coating processes for materials without established playbooks, constantly learning, adapting, and pushing the boundaries of what is possible when nature meets engineering.

Experience
- Diverse experience with paper coating processes for packaging (extrusion coating, flexo, gravure, etc.)
- Proven track record of leading complex R&D projects and delivering technical breakthroughs
- Strong relationship management and cross-functional collaboration experience
- Experience coordinating with external partners and managing trial logistics
- Comfortable working in ambiguity, agile methodologies, and fast-paced environments
- Willingness to travel frequently for partner collaborations, trials, and consortium meetings
- Minimum 2 years of experience in paper coating material and process development

About you
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to diverse audiences
- Strong problem-solving skills with creative and critical thinking abilities
- Make-it-happen attitude with a passion for innovation and sustainability
- Able to work effectively across disciplines and manage multiple concurrent projects

Qualifications
- Relevant degree in Material Science, Process Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Packaging Engineering, or a related field