Coating Process Engineer

Coating Process Engineer

Hackney Wick, London

Full-time | Permanent employee

At Notpla, we’re at the forefront of sustainable innovation, creating natural alternatives to single‑use plastic packaging. Founded on the belief that nature knows best, we’re 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’ll develop breakthrough natural material technologies into scalable solutions. This role sits at the critical intersection of material science and industrial‑scale coating processes, where you'll develop and transform innovative biomaterial solutions in the very early stages into commercially viable packaging alternatives that replace single‑use plastics.

This is an exciting time to join Notpla — we’re on the brink of a record‑breaking year for revenue and on track for major growth in the next 18–24 months. To support this, we have just secured a Series A+ fundraise, enabling us to scale our growth and environmental impact faster than ever.

Beyond offering meaningful roles and a vibrant working environment, Notpla provides 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 lets you work in the way that maximises your productivity while maintaining a dynamic and collaborative atmosphere. We’re a social business with regular clubs and events, and we’re proud of how our diverse, mission‑driven community works together to make plastic disappear.

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'll work hands‑on in both the laboratory and on pilot facilities, designing and executing coating trials, troubleshooting process challenges, and building technical knowledge that advances Notpla’s mission across multiple concurrent projects.

• Drive new natural material development projects through material and process development into scalable solutions.
• Design, organise, execute, and analyse coating trials both in‑house and at partner facilities, working hands‑on to develop and optimise processes for natural material applications.
• Lead and coordinate coating trials across multiple projects, bringing process engineering expertise while learning the nuances of each technology.
• Develop coating processes for packaging applications, focusing on extrusion coating, water‑based systems, and other paper coating technologies (flexo, gravure, curtain coating, etc.).
• Troubleshoot coating defects and process challenges through root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Scale coating processes from laboratory to pilot stage, anticipating and addressing scale‑up challenges.
• Build deep technical understanding of how natural materials behave in coating processes, including rheology, adhesion, film formation, and drying characteristics.
• Characterise coating performance through systematic testing of barrier properties, adhesion, and mechanical properties.
• Mentor team members from various disciplines on coating process fundamentals.
• Plan and manage your own work effectively, balancing multiple concurrent projects.

• Work shoulder to shoulder and collaborate closely with cross‑disciplinary teams, including material designers, material scientists, business development managers, product designers, seaweed specialists, and more, to solve complex challenges.
• Blur disciplinary boundaries when needed to drive integrated problem‑solving.
• Successfully create and manage external relationships and represent Notpla.
• Liaise with academic institutions, commercial labs, and equipment suppliers to organise third‑party testing and explore technology partnerships.
• Provide technical support for grant proposals and client projects.

• Conduct rapid feasibility studies and pathfinding…