About Us:
Byohm, the trading name for Wastewater Fuels Ltd, is a UK-based clean technology company pioneering next-generation wastewater treatment and renewable energy systems. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Coventry, West Midlands, we develop bio-electrochemical systems (BES) that convert wastewater into treated water and renewable fuels.
Driven by a mission to revolutionise wastewater treatment through low-energy, sustainable technologies, we aim to recover energy and protect natural resources. Our vision is to create a world where every drop of wastewater and organic waste contributes to a circular, decarbonised economy — transforming what was once waste into a valuable source of clean energy and environmental resilience.
Job Overview:
We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Research & Design Chemical Engineer to support the development, optimisation, and scale-up of Microbial Electrochemical Cell – Anaerobic Digestion systems (MEC-AD).
The successful applicant will contribute to the research, design, testing, and engineering optimisation of integrated anaerobic digestion and bio-electrochemical systems. This role is suited to a candidate with strong technical knowledge of anaerobic digestion, process design, and applied research, with an interest in developing scalable technologies for renewable energy, waste treatment, and resource recovery.
Key Responsibilities include:
- Supporting the research and development of MEC-AD systems from laboratory scale through to pilot and scale-up stages.
- Designing, testing, and optimising anaerobic digestion and microbial electrochemical systems.Utilise CAD software such as AutoCAD and SolidWorks to create detailed schematics and system layouts.
- Assisting with process design, reactor configuration, materials selection, and system integration.
- Analysing system performance, including biogas production, methane yield, COD removal, volatile fatty acids, pH, alkalinity, nutrient balance, and electrochemical performance.
- Developing experimental plans, operating procedures, and technical reports.
- Supporting scale-up studies, including mass and energy balances, hydraulic design, mixing considerations, and process control requirements.
- Identifying opportunities to improve system efficiency, stability, and commercial viability.
- Working with multidisciplinary teams, including chemical engineers, microbiologists, electrochemists, and process engineers.
- Reviewing scientific literature and applying current research findings to system design and optimisation.
- Communication of project progress with internal and external stakeholders.
- Supporting grant applications, technical proposals, presentations, and publications where required.
Essential Requirements:
Applicants should have:
- A Master’s degree or higher in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
- Demonstrable research experience in anaerobic digestion.
- Strong understanding of biological waste treatment, biogas production, and anaerobic reactor operation.
- Experience designing, operating, or analysing laboratory-scale or pilot-scale bioreactors.
- Knowledge of process engineering principles, including mass transfer, reaction kinetics, heat and mass balances, and process optimisation.
- Ability to interpret experimental data and prepare clear technical reports.
- Ability to interpret experimental data and prepare clear technical reports.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Good communication skills and the ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- A practical, hands-on approach to experimental research and engineering design.
- Good awareness of laboratory safety, risk assessments, and safe operating procedures.
Desirable Skills and Experience:
The following skills would be advantageous:
· Experience with microbial electrochemical systems, including microbial electrolysis cells, microbial fuel cells, bioelectrochemical reactors, or related technologies.
· Knowledge of electrochemistry, including electrode materials, cell design, voltage/current measurement, cyclic voltammetry, impedance analysis, or electrochemical reactor performance.
· Understanding of microbiology, particularly anaerobic microbial communities, methanogens, biofilms, syntrophic interactions, and microbial pathways involved in anaerobic digestion.
· Experience with CFD – Computational Fluid Dynamics, particularly for reactor design, mixing analysis, fluid flow, mass transfer, or scale-up studies.
· Experience with process simulation or modelling software.
· Familiarity with reactor scale-up, pilot plant design, or technology demonstration projects.
· Knowledge of renewable energy systems, wastewater treatment, organic waste treatment, or circular economy technologies.
· Experience with gas analysis, chromatography, spectrophotometry, electrochemical testing, or biochemical methane potential testing.
· Programming or data analysis skills, such as Python, MATLAB, R, or similar.
· Experience preparing academic publications, technical reports, grant proposals, or patent-supporting documentation.
Personal Attributes:
We are looking for someone who is:
· Curious, research-driven, and technically rigorous.
· Comfortable working on emerging technologies with evolving design requirements.
· Able to translate laboratory findings into practical engineering improvements.
· Organised and capable of managing experimental work, data, and documentation.
· Collaborative, proactive, and willing to contribute ideas across disciplines.
· Motivated by sustainable technology, renewable energy, and environmental innovation.
Pay: £27,000.00-£36,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Application question(s):
- Minimum qualification: Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering or a closely related discipline.
Education:
Experience:
- • Demonstrable research experience in anaerobic digestion: 1 year (required)
- Biological waste treatment, biogas production, AD: 1 year (required)
- Design/operate/analyse laboratory or pilot-scale bioreactors: 1 year (required)
- Laboratory H&S, RAMS, safe operating procedures: 1 year (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
