R&D Manager

Introduction to Mura Technology Limited

Mura Technology's mission is to protect the land, oceans and air from pollution caused by plastic mismanagement.

We are pioneering a globally scalable hydrothermal plastic recycling technology, Hydro-PRT®, to prevent millions of tonnes of plastic waste and CO2 from entering our natural environment every year, turning a resource worth $1.05tn annually (by 2033) into a valuable global commodity. By recycling the ‘unrecyclable’ - plastic waste materials currently sent to landfill, incineration or leaked into the environment – Mura’s advanced recycling technology is contributing towards a circular economy, while circular hydrocarbons produced via Hydro-PRT® significantly reduce carbon emissions from the plastics industry by replacing fossil resources in the manufacturing of new plastic.

We are partnering with some of the largest global companies to scale our technology worldwide. Our ambition is for 1,500,000 tonnes of annual plastic recycling capacity in operation or development by 2032.

The company is based in Teesside, UK, with offices in London and Singapore.

About the Role:

This Role will lead the research, development, and technical innovation functions supporting the scale‑up and commercial deployment of Mura’s Hydro-PRT technology.

This role is central to bridging laboratory chemistry, pilot‑scale testing, feedstock qualification, and commercial plant optimisation with intellectual property development. You will operate in a fast‑paced startup environment with evolving technology pathways and global scale‑up ambitions.

You will be responsible for advancing process understanding, supporting intellectual property development and strategy, developing new technical capabilities, supporting regulatory compliance, guiding feedstock and circular hydrocarbon product qualification, and enabling rapid technical troubleshooting across the organisation.

Summary of Key Roles and Responsibilities:

Core Technical & Process Responsibilities

• Develop an understanding the impact of different polymeric material on operations and the output of Mura’s Hydro-PRT process
• Manage relationships with research partners, designing pilot trials for assessment of appropriate feedstocks and author accompanying specifications
• Assess results from commercial trials and prepare technical reports to management
• Interface with external laboratories and Mura’s offtake partners to provide feedstock monitoring and product quality compliance
• Input to, and in some cases, lead submissions for R&D grant applications

Laboratory, Plant & Operational Integration

• Establish and manage the laboratory on the Wilton site and all analytical workflows supporting feedstock qualification, in‑process sampling, and product certification
• Develop laboratory SOPs, safety protocols, QA/QC procedures, data control systems, and competency training for lab technicians and plant personnel
• Support plant process engineers with root‑cause analysis, failure investigation, and rapid troubleshooting during commissioning and operation
• Coordinate with operations to design and implement optimisation trials for yield enhancement, oil quality improvements, and energy efficiency

Research Strategy, Innovation & IP Development

• Support CTO with the development of the company’s R&D roadmap in areas including hydrothermal chemistry, polymer degradation mechanisms, catalyst development, feedstock preprocessing, and product upgrading
• Identify opportunities for new scientific research, collaborations, and technology partnerships
• Contribute to intellectual property creation: capturing know-how, invention disclosures, patent reviews, and supporting patent filing processes

Regulatory, Compliance & Sustainability

• Lead REACH registration processes for new products and maintain compliance for existing registered substances, collaborating with regulatory and compliance 
• Support life‑cycle analysis (LCA) activities, carbon accounting, and sustainability reporting linked to recycling outcomes

Cross‑Functional & Commercial Support

• Collaborate with the feedstock supply team to assess alternative waste‑plastic streams and validate quality parameters for commercial sourcing
• Support production of investor materials, technical documentation for licensing discussions, and grant‑funding applications
• Help develop training materials for non‑technical personnel, translating complex polymer chemistry and process science into digestible content

Skills and Experience:

• Advanced degree (PhD or MSc) in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Materials Science, or related field
• Expertise in polymer degradation chemistry, thermochemical processes, pyrolysis / hydrothermal reactions, or petrochemical process chemistry
• Proficiency with analytical instruments and interpretation of complex data sets
• Strong understanding of refinery products, hydrocarbon chemistry, contaminants, and upgrading processes
• Experience coordinating external partners, universities, and R&D contractors
• Experience with REACH, SDS preparation, hazardous materials classification, regulatory submissions, understanding of UK environmental regulations, emissions monitoring, waste management rules

Personal Attributes:

• High ownership mindset, comfortable working strategically and operationally across multiple time zones
• Curious, proactive, and resilient; thrives in fast‑paced, complex technical environments
• Strong problem‑solving orientation – flexible, creative, and willing to get hands-on
• Ability to work with ambiguity, iterate rapidly, and take ownership for building capabilities from scratch
• Excellent technical writing skills (trial reports, grant applications, scientific papers)
• Strong presentation and stakeholder‑management skills

Role Type:

On-site • Permanent • Full-time • Mid-level Senior