As a Manufacturing Development Engineer at Shellworks, you will pioneer the transition from concept to production for sustainable materials. You will design, prototype, and validate innovative manufacturing routes for Vivomer, working closely with external partners to scale high-performance alternatives to petroleum-based plastics and directly combat the global plastic pollution crisis.
Back to all jobs
Learn about Jack
Manufacturing Development Engineer at Shellworks
Shellworks is tackling the global plastic crisis by developing Vivomer, a revolutionary material made by bacteria that performs like plastic but breaks down naturally in the environment. As a Manufacturing Development Engineer in London, you will bridge the gap between material innovation and commercial scale. You'll lead the creation of entirely new manufacturing routes, from prototyping equipment to overseeing partner trials and first production runs. This is a rare opportunity for a hands-on mechanical engineer to join a mission-driven team and build the physical infrastructure needed for a sustainable future. Join Shellworks and help prove that there is a better way to make things.
About this role
Role overview
About the company
Shellworks is a design-led techbio company developing plastic-free, compostable packaging materials and products to replace conventional plastics. The company cultivates high‑performance biomaterials in its lab using natural fermentation processes and plant or waste feedstocks, creating materials that are recyclable in the biological cycle and can safely break down in home or industrial composting environments.[1][2][3][4][5] Its flagship material, Vivomer, is a bio‑based, vegan, shelf‑stable and reusable alternative to plastic that contains no microplastics or toxic additives and is made and unmade by microbes.[1][3][4] Shellworks works with brands and manufacturers to deliver sustainable packaging solutions and other commercial products that match or exceed the performance of traditional plastic, aiming to demonstrate that large‑scale, plastic‑free innovation is commercially viable while significantly reducing environmental impact.[1][2][3][4][5]
What you'll do
What you will do
- Lead early-stage manufacturing projects from initial concept through prototyping, equipment specification, and pilot validation.
- Serve as the technical interface with co-manufacturers to ensure innovative processes meet strict quality and scalability standards.
- Travel to partner facilities and trial sites to troubleshoot and accelerate the deployment of new production routes.
Who you are
Who this is a fit for
- Strong background in plastics and polymer processing, including hands-on experience with moulding, extrusion, or assembly techniques.
- Mechanical engineering expertise with a grasp of process fundamentals, tooling design, and the ability to prototype machines.
- A self-starter comfortable with technical ambiguity and travel, thriving in high-autonomy, fast-paced startup environments.
Why this role
Why this role is remarkable
- Work with Vivomer, a breakthrough material that mimics plastic performance but is fully broken down by natural microbes.
- Move beyond incremental optimization to build entirely new manufacturing processes and equipment from the ground up.
- Join a mission-driven, tightly-knit team of experts in materials science and engineering dedicated to solving plastic waste.
Jack & Jill
How Jack & Jill work together
I get to know what you’re great at, then find roles you’d never find yourself.Ok, I'll go first. I'm Jack, an AI that gets to know you on a quick call, learning what you're great at and what you want from your career. Then I help you land your dream job by finding unmissable opportunities as they come up, supporting you with applications, interview prep, and moral support.
I recruit from Jack’s network and make the intro when I spot a great match.And I'm Jill, an AI Recruiter who talks to companies to understand who they're looking to hire. Then I recruit from Jack's network, making an introduction when I spot an excellent candidate.
Meet Jack
Jack gets to know what you're great at and what you want next, then searches 15 million jobs daily and helps you discover roles at companies like this.
How does this work?
Jack’s an AI agent for job searching and career coaching. He works for you.
Jill is the AI recruiter working for the company. She recruits from Jack’s network.
If it’s a match and the company wants to meet you, they’ll make the intro. In the meantime, if you’d like, Jack will send you excellent alternatives.