About us Grouse Fibre is an early-stage climate tech start-up pushing the boundaries of the future of materials. We have ambitious aims to convert abundant proteins into high value products. In order to realise this goal, we’re hiring mission-driven scientists and engineers who want to make a real tangible impact on the fields of material science and regenerative agriculture. What will you do? You’ll be a key early hire working closely with the founding team to drive and scale the technical development, with a focus on product and the leap from lab to commercial demonstrator. You will be responsible for the development of a nonwoven for agricultural and horticultural applications from our protein fibres. You’ll be based at our lab/workshop in Moreton-in-Marsh with occassional travel to Scotland and the East of England The ideal candidate The ideal candidate will bring a significant expertise in either polymer/nonwoven processing or in the agronomy and commerical horticulture. They will have previous experience building pilot projects from the ground up and validate new materials. They will be comfortable operating across the business from hard science, process engineering, co-ordinating external contractors and practical hands-on expertise. Responsibilities ● Work with industry partners to create prototypes and a pathway to commercialisation ● Work with partner organisations to evaluate the commercial and technical viability ● Generate plans for experiments and trials to support our R&D roadmap ● Manage and coordinate an externally funded project ● Support related projects and activities, collaborating with trial partners to evaluate materials on-site ● Record and analyse data sets and disseminate results to your colleagues and stakeholders ● Contribute to the overall success of the business which could include attending customer trials, writing grant applications and implementing ideas. Qualifications and Experience ● Scientific or technical background to MSc. or PhD level ● Knowledgeable in the methods and machinery in polymer processing OR in the agronomy and growing trials ● Experience in managing projects, with knowledge of Innovate UK funding beneficial ● Willingness to adapt your role to support the evolving needs of the business and take on additional tasks and responsibilities as become necessary (e.g. project management, marketing, on-site work). ● Exceptional problem-solving abilities and creativity in addressing design challenges, turning obstacles into opportunities for innovation and lean design solutions. ● Experience of working within an early stage start-up (Desirable) EDI Grouse Fibre is committed to promoting equal opportunities and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We actively seek to attract and retain a diverse workforce as we believe that diversity drives innovation, enhances collaboration, and enables us to better understand and meet the needs of our employees, clients, and stakeholders. Therefore, we actively encourage applications from individuals with characteristics that are underrepresented in R&D.