Permanent contract | Belval-Luxembourg

Are you passionate about research? So are we! Come and join us

The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) is a Research and Technology Organization (RTO) active in the fields of materials, environment and IT. By transforming scientific knowledge into technologies, smart data and tools, LIST empowers citizens in their choices, public authorities in their decisions and businesses in their strategies.

Do you want to know more about LIST? Check our website: https://www.list.lu/

How will you contribute?

The RPPM Group (Responsive Polymeric and Particulate Materials) is seeking a Lead Research Engineer with a strong background in chemical synthesis and engineering to lead and support scale-up activities within a multidisciplinary research group focused on polymeric functional and particulate materials. The candidate will play a key role in translating lab-scale innovations into demonstrator and pilot-scale processes, and will contribute to reactor setup, process optimization, and safe, efficient upscaling strategies across various research projects.

This position is ideal for someone with a solid understanding of chemistry and polymer science, combined with practical experience in chemical process engineering, reactor design, and industrial transfer of materials and formulations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead process scale-up from lab-scale reactions to pilot and demonstrator levels, particularly for polymeric and functional materials.

• Perform key parameter calculations (e.g., heat/mass transfer, mixing, kinetics) to guide scale-up decisions.

• Design, set up, and optimize large-scale reactors and processing equipment.

• Collaborate with chemists and materials scientists to adapt synthetic routes for scalability and industrial relevance.

• Ensure safe and reproducible scale-up protocols and develop standard operating procedures.

• Support multiple projects within the group requiring scale-up and contribute to cross-functional teams.

• Interface with external partners, suppliers, and industrial collaborators to tailor scale-up strategies to meet the requirements of final applications.

• Lead and contribute to project acquisition and proposal development by providing strategic insights into scale-up and process feasibility across collaborative initiatives.

• Train and supervise junior engineers, technicians, PhD students, Postdocs, and interns in process development and safety.

Is Your profile described below? Are you our future colleague? Apply now!

Education

·        PhD degree in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, Applied Chemistry or a closely related field, with a strong background in chemical synthesis and materials science, with 5–7+ years of relevant experience after PhD completion.

Experience and skills

• Demonstrated experience in chemical process scale-up, ideally including pilot plant operation and reactor design/setup.

• In-depth understanding of polymer chemistry, material synthesis, and process-structure relationships.

• Proficiency in calculating and optimizing key process parameters (e.g., residence time, mixing, energy balance).

• Practical experience with batch and continuous reactors, including safe handling and upscaling of reactive systems.

• Familiarity with polymer processing (e.g., extrusion, compounding, film casting) is a strong asset.

• Capability to develop scale-up strategies aligned with the performance needs of end-use applications.

• Ability to work across disciplines and understand both chemical and materials science challenges.

• Demonstrated leadership in securing competitive funding and managing research projects as Principal Investigator, with strong coordination skills and the ability to balance multiple priorities effectively.

• Excellent communication skills for effective collaboration in a multidisciplinary and international team.

• Proven ability to supervise and mentor technical staff, interns, PhD students, and early-career researchers.

• Strong safety awareness and commitment to process and lab safety.

Language skills

·        Strong spoken and written English is mandatory

·        Knowledge of French, German and / or Luxembourgish is considered an asset

Your LIST benefits

·        An organization with a passion for impact and strong RDI partnerships in Luxembourg and Europe that works on responsible and independent research projects

·        Sustainable by design, empowering our belief that we play an essential role in paving the way to a green society

·        Innovative infrastructures and exceptional labs occupying more than 5,000 square metres, including innovations in all that we do

·        An environment encouraging curiosity, innovation and entrepreneurship in all areas

·        Personalized learning programme to foster our staff’s soft and technical skills

·        Multicultural and international work environment with more than 50 nationalities represented in our workforce

·        Diverse and inclusive work environment empowering our people to fulfill their personal and professional ambitions

·        Gender-friendly environment with multiple actions to attract, develop and retain women in science

·        32 days’ paid annual leave, 11 public holidays, 13-month salary, statutory health insurance

·        Flexible working hours, home working policy and access to lunch vouchers

Apply online

Your application must include:

·        A motivation letter oriented towards the position and detailing your experience;

·        A detailed CV

Please apply ONLINE formally through the HR system. Applications by email and Linkedin message will not be considered.

Application procedure and conditions

We kindly request applicants to provide their nationality for statistical purposes only, as part of our commitment to promoting diversity and ensuring equal opportunities in our workforce. This information will be kept confidential and will not be used for any discriminatory purposes.

LIST is dedicated to maintaining an inclusive work environment and is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to attracting, hiring, and retaining a diverse workforce. All applicants will be considered for employment without discrimination based on national origin, race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, religion, age, or disability.

Applications will be continuously reviewed until the position is filled. An assessment committee will thoroughly evaluate applications, adhering to guidelines designed to ensure equal opportunities. The primary criteria for selection will be the alignment of the applicant's existing skills and expertise with the requirements mentioned above.