Placement Student - Process Technology (Engineering)

CPI is delighted to be recruiting for a placement opportunity for an individual who will join the established and growing Process Technology team within the National Formulation Centre based at NETPark, in Sedgefield.

Process Technology is a growing team of nineteen Process Chemists and Chemical Engineers, and we work together to develop viable novel technologies and processes. This means solving new and complex problems and constantly finding creative ways of working. The team also leads on chemical and process safety within Formulation.

Placement students who join the Process Technology team will gain first-hand experience of developing and optimising laboratory scale processes and will be using these results to help design full-scale commercial plant. They will also be involved in desktop studies including Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA), mass and energy balances, flow sheeting and equipment sizing.

Our aim is to give placement students a wide variety of experience, working across a wide range of technologies and industries on very diverse projects. When you join the team, you will be allocated a supportive mentor and be given the opportunity to shadow various experienced team members across a range of projects, whilst undertaking relevant and useful work that we match to your interests, strengths, and career goals. You will be making a meaningful contribution to real commercial and collaborative projects and will become an important member of the team.

Process Technology team placement students in the past have worked on projects which include:

• Converting a lab-scale batch process into a lab-scale continuous process


• Visiting client sites to troubleshoot and improve their existing process


• Altering and optimising a lab-based pilot plant to demonstrate the viability of a new technology


• Using lab results to inform the flow-sheeting and preliminary design of a pilot-scale plant


• Using client information to produce a Front-End Engineering Design for a first-in-world recycling plant


Assessing the commercial viability of a new process

The Role:

• To be responsible for discussing project needs; setting up, planning, and executing engineering work and reporting results/ outcomes to agreed timescales.


• To be responsible for agreeing weekly work plans with line manager and project manager(s) and delivering plan to agreed schedule.


• To be responsible for providing clearly documented records of technical data, decisions, methodologies, planning and software use in an agreed format.


• Contribute to the delivery of formulation projects through the delivery of Formulation knowledge.


• To share professional knowledge with colleagues and be responsible for own continuous professional development.


• Contribute to a culture of continuous capability development within teams in alignment with company strategy and project deliverables.


To work with others as part of a larger team on projects.

To complete engineering duties in a variety of settings: desk-based study, laboratory design of experiment and experimental work, report writing and presentations to external clients, engineering calculation and design using a number of software.

To be able to work on multiple projects and responsibilities simultaneously.

You will be studying towards (or have recently completed) a Degree in Chemical Engineering or a related field.

Applicants should be enthusiastic, have effective interpersonal skills and be willing to learn hands on/ practical experience. The ideal candidates will be committed to, and actively seek opportunities to develop themselves within these new and exciting roles.

These positions would suit students whose course includes a sandwich year in industry, or those able to take a placement opportunity in industry between academic years.

CPI helps make great ideas and inventions a reality. We're a team of intelligent people using advances in science and technology to solve the biggest global challenges in healthcare and sustainability.

Through our incredible people and innovation infrastructure, we collaborate with our partners in industry, academia, government, and the investment community to accelerate the development and commercialisation of innovative products.

From health technologies and pharmaceuticals to sustainable food and materials innovations, we turn the entrepreneurial spirit and radical thinking of our people and partners into incredible impact that makes our world a better place., At CPI we work with our partners to translate inventions into products and processes that enhance health and well-being, protect, and improve our environment and increase productivity across industries.

With a deep understanding of innovation processes and funding, outstanding technical expertise, and industry relevant assets, we enable products and processes to be quickly and cost-effectively brought to market. This supports the development of next-generation manufacturing, highly skilled jobs, and economic growth for the UK.

Our partners operate across many diverse markets including pharmaceuticals, speciality chemicals, food and drink, electronics, and transportation., CPI is an organisation based in the UK. Commencement of employment is conditional to demonstrating right to work in the UK, sponsorship may be available.

At CPI, we offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, this includes:

• Up to 36 days holiday, including bank holidays - Plus a holiday purchasing scheme


• Generous pension scheme


• Life assurance and accident insurance schemes


• Flexible working


• Learning and Development Opportunities


• Free parking


Find out more about our culture and benefits., At CPI, we offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, including family friendly policies, flexible holidays and holiday purchasing schemes, opportunities for learning and development, generous pension plan, life assurance and accident insurance schemes.