Lead Milling Engineer

Role type: Full-time, permanent
Location: South Wales/UK based, with extensive travel required to: Production sites and future milling sites – initially largely based in South Wales (Port Talbot, Cardiff), and later further afield / Trips to HQ in Cambridge / Trips to visit other sites/partners/suppliers relevant to milling.

Role description

Defining and scaling our milling capability is a critical part of Reclinker’s journey from first commercial production to international deployment. We’re looking for an experienced, innovative Milling Engineer to lead this capability and become our technical expert in comminution and particle processing.

Your mission will be to develop milling processes that deliver the optimum balance of product quality, cost and carbon performance. You’ll take ownership of the entire milling strategy – from defining product specifications and selecting equipment, through commissioning our first pilot-scale milling facility, to optimising production as we scale across the UK and internationally.

Initially, you’ll establish milling specifications for Reclinker’s products and manage external toll milling partners to support early commercial production. In parallel, you’ll lead the design, procurement, installation and commissioning of our first in-house milling facility, including mills, crushers, classifiers, separation technologies and associated process equipment.

As the facility becomes operational, your focus will shift to process optimisation, reliability and continuous improvement, working closely with Operations to ensure safe, efficient production. Beyond our first plant, you’ll play a key role in designing and deploying milling systems for future Reclinker facilities, helping establish a standardised approach that can be replicated across multiple sites.

You’ll work closely with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, R&D and Finance teams, while acting as the technical interface with equipment suppliers, engineering contractors and toll milling partners. The role reports to the Chief Operations Officer, working closely with both the Engineering, Supply Chain and Ops Lead and the local South Wales Operations Lead includes regular travel to suppliers and operating sites.

This is a rare opportunity to build an industrial capability from the ground up. You’ll have the chance to shape the design of a first-of-a-kind process, influence major capital investment decisions, and help scale a breakthrough decarbonisation technology from its first commercial plant to an international manufacturing network.

Key objectives

2026-2027:

• Define Reclinker’s milling process and capabilities, planning for short-, medium- and long-term operation.
• Secure reliable toll milling capacity for South Wales operations by engaging multiple toll millers and managing their performance and product quality.
• Lead design, commissioning, operation and maintenance of our pilot milling plant, including provider engagement.
• Scale product processing from 1000s tonnes to 100,000s tonnes per annum.
• Continuously improve milling specifications, product performance, energy efficiency and operating cost with the R&D team to deliver a world class operation.

Responsibilities

AreaKey ResponsibilitiesMilling strategy-Define milling specifications and process requirements to achieve target product quality, cost and carbon performance
-Develop the short-, medium- and long-term milling strategy across Reclinker’s operationsExternal production (Toll milling)-Identify, negotiate with, and manage toll milling partners to deliver required quality, volumes and schedules – working with wider Ops and Finance teams
-Monitor cost, throughput, yield and quality KPIs, driving continuous improvement
-Maintain operating procedures, technical agreements and HSE compliancePlant design & delivery-Lead the design of Reclinker’s milling plants and ancillary systems (hoppers, feeders, siloes, separation etc.)
-Coordinate engineering activities through Pre-FEED, FEED and FID
-Manage engineering contractors and ensure designs are safe, practical and investment readyCommissioning & operations-Lead installation, commissioning and start-up of milling facilities
-Troubleshoot process and equipment issues, providing technical support and operator training
-Optimise plant performance, energy consumption and product qualityContinuous improvement & maintenance-Improve comminution performance across crushers, mills and classifiers
-Lead performance testing, plant audits and root cause investigations
-Develop preventative maintenance strategies and improve equipment reliabilityR&D & scale-up-Support milling trials, pilot campaigns and technology development
-Translate trial results into commercial operating parameters, and the first South Wales operation into replicable future plant designs
-Evaluate emerging milling technologies and process improvementsGeneral responsibilities-Promote a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with HSE and environmental standards
-Build our team in line with Reclinker’s company values
-Support project delivery, budgets, technical documentation and stakeholder engagement

Requirements

Knowledge and experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or relevant technical certification required.
• Strong process engineering, commissioning, quality control and optimisation experience in cement or heavy industrial operations.
• Deep knowledge of cement milling systems, including vertical roller mills, ball mills, roller crushers, roller presses and separators.
• Experience with plant operations, equipment sizing, process flow diagrams, process piping and instrumentation diagrams, mass balances and process audits.
• Experience leading engineering design, multidisciplinary teams and large industrial CAPEX projects through Pre-FEED, FEED and EPC stages.
• Proficiency with MS Office tools and a valid driving licence.
• Milling/ comminution technical expertise.
• Nice to have: R&D experience.

Skills and abilities:

• Strong ownership, accountability, troubleshooting, analytical, communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to work across dynamic site environments, travel regularly and manage competing priorities.
• Ability to design and deliver technical training.
• Excitement to innovate and deliver something new.

Compensation & benefits:

• Competitive salary
• 33 days annual leave including UK bank holidays
• Private medical and dental insurance
• Pension contribution
• Flexible / hybrid working
• Potential access to the employee share scheme, subject to board approval.

Apply with your CV to patrycja.koziol@reclinker.com.