Process Engineer
Imerys
St. Austell, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Advertised Salary: Competitive
Ref#: 144559
Role: Process Engineer
Salary: Competitive
Hours: 40h M-F
Location: Stenalees, Cornwall
Would you like to be involved in Europe's first integrated Lithium production facility?
The joint venture between Imerys and British Lithium:
Imerys British Lithium (IBL) is a joint venture between Imerys S.A. and Lithium Assets Ltd., formerly British Lithium, developing a world class micaceous lithium resource in Cornwall. IBL have developed unique, patented technology for the sustainable recovery of battery grade lithium carbonate from micaceous granite, with the goal of building the world’s first integrated lithium mine, beneficiation plant and refinery producing 20,000tpa of lithium carbonate – enough to support production in the UK of 350,000 electric vehicles per year.
The role: You will be part of the development of IBL’s novel process technologies for refining and purifying lithium from micaceous granites. The role is responsible for the successful integration of refinery process technologies into the process design for the British Lithium Project.
This will involve dialogue with external parties, design engineers, and project stakeholders in defining, specifying and de-risking the process technology that will deliver lithium carbonate product to the market.
Your main responsibilities: You will undertake the successful scale-up and de-risking of the lithium carbonate refinery process technologies and operating conditions through to commercial implementation. You will be expected to undertake pilot plant operations and apply lessons learned to the commercial process design whilst;
- Undertaking scale-up and de-risking activities within the Refinery team, including executing work programmes, facilitating change and driving execution.
- Being responsible for the commercial design of the Pyrometallurgy or Hydrometallurgy section of the Lithium Carbonate Refinery (LCR) process, leveraging internal expertise and that of third-party equipment / technology suppliers.
- Responsible for technical risk management for the LCR process design. This includes updating the technical risk register, executing trials and test work and incorporating findings into the process design to reduce technical risk.
- Contributing to improvement capital requests and project supervision for implantation of improvement capital projects.
- Being a key process technology expert for pyrometallurgical, hydrometallurgical and chemical process technologies. Input to business decision making in the presence of company Directors and senior stakeholders.
- Execution of process scale-up programmes at pilot scale. Drive the creation of analytical and process data to develop robust understandings of chemical processes. Subsequently, maintain a robust culture of intellectual property development and capture.
- Responsible for process engineering deliverables for the design of the commercial LCR plant, including engineering design packages, equipment specifications, input on philosophies.
What we ask you in return:
- Have a degree level qualification in process/chemical engineering
- Have exposure to project management practices.
- Have experience of managing multiple stakeholders across sites and functions with a clear collaboration mindset.
- Have experience in the scale-up of chemicals process technologies within a chemicals or mining environment, with experience with Lithium chemistries advantageous
- Have knowledge of health & safety standards and COSHH regulations and, ideally, have a vocational health and safety qualification.
All roles within Imerys British Lithium require flexibility and ability to adapt. During periods of extended operating campaigns, intense activity and / or reduced staff availability, the role may be required to undertake any activities to support the project, subject to adequate competency for specialist tasks
What’s in for you? You will be working for Imerys, the world leader in mineral-based specialty solutions for industry, with over 16,000 employees and over 200 sites worldwide. Imerys delivers high value-added, functional solutions to diversified sets of industrial sectors, from processing industries to consumer goods. We support your professional development including training, costs, offering a competitive salary and other benefits such as;
- Company sick pay entitlement after 6 months service,
- Life Assurance,
- Defined Contribution Pension Plan,
- 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays,
- Income Protection for DC members,
- Long Service awards,
- Reward Hub & Local Discounts,
- Flu Vouchers,
- Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme,
- Health & Wellbeing Programme, Eye Care Vouchers,
- Cycle to work scheme and
- Endeavour club (off site gym) to help you stay fit and healthy.
Our people are important to us, our workplaces are diverse and inclusive and whilst maintaining the health, safety and environmental standards on site, for yourself and others around you, we’re an organisation with a wealth of career and development opportunities that allow you to tap into your full potential.
To apply, please follow the link below or email: lia.welch@imerys.com