Industrial Engineer

About Better Origin 

Our food chain is broken - the system that can barely feed 7 billion people will not feed 10 billion we’re expected to reach by 2050. And while it's hard to imagine that things could be different, they have to be.  

At Better Origin, our mission is to fix the broken food chain. We are inspired by nature and how it deals with waste, with nutrients always flowing in a circular system.  

Our technology uses insects - nature's best up cyclers - to transform food waste into a range of innovative products, from animal feed to pet food. With the help of AI and robotics we support localising food chains, reducing waste and emissions, making circular economy possible. 

Why join us?  

We’re backed by world-class investors at Balderton Capital, Fly Ventures and Metavallon VC. We're working with supermarkets and food producers to roll out our technology in the UK and the EU. In 2020 we launched our first system the X1, and in 2021 signed a contract with Morrisons to convert their fruit and veg waste and create a carbon neutral egg line. In 2023, we expanded our solutions to produce sustainable ingredients for pet food. We’re rapidly building momentum and are continuing to develop new technology and products.

Following our $16m Series A round raised to support technology and team scaleup, we are looking to hire the best people that make Better Origin a great place to work.  

We are very proud of our values and want to attract those who feel motivated by them as much as we are. Some of our key values include:  

1. Customer obsession
2. No waste
3. Challenge makes us grow
4. Accountability drives excellence
5. Respect each other
6. Keep it simple, keep it done  

Requirements

Your Role 

As the Industrial Engineer you will be responsible for optimizing processes, designing and developing our new Origin-X production facilities.  

The Origin-X is our flagship modular autonomous factory, utilising our existing technology and systems, to produce sustainable feed ingredients at scale. Drawing from multiple fully automated mini farms (X1's) the facility will convert Black Soldier Fly larvae into a wide range of products including insect puree, oil and meal. 

Role specifics: 

• Optimising processes and operating baseline of the factory 
• Overseeing all stages of the project lifecycle from design to installation and commissioning
• Determining site locations, specifications and scale / capacity
• Working with a variety of systems, combining Hardware and Robotics with Software and AI / Computer Vision 
• Advising on factory footprints, equipment required and process flows 
• Selecting electrical and mechanical hardware including sensors, process instrumentation, conveyors, frequency inverters, screw augers, heaters, pneumatics, pumps, motors, PLCs and HVAC units 
• Liaising with external clients to ensure design specifications meet requirements
• Building models to calculate the operating model and adjusting CapEx, OpEx, mass balance and efficiency of labour 
• Continuously developing production processes for new products at large scale 
• Maintaining our overarching principles of creating simple to use, cost effective and reliable systems 
• Reporting into our CEO / Founder or other relevant leaders and working closely with team members across engineering, commercial, production and sciences 

What we're looking for: 

• Experience in scaling up complex projects e.g. engineering operations from pilot / early stage / lab to large scale production  
• Excited to get involved with difficult challenges that can make the world a better place 
• Exposure in setting up sites / facilities encompassing automation systems 
• Strong mathematical and problem-solving skills, able to logically resolve complex technical challenges and calculations  
• Proactive and self-motivated, driven to achieve results, excited by challenge and working in ambiguity   
• Excellent communication and organisation skills 
• Team player with strong communication and interpersonal skills, used to working with internal and external teams 
• Degree in Engineering, or a related discipline  

Please note: the successful applicant will need to regularly access our primary site in Cambridgeshire (CB21 5DA), as well as visiting client sites as required.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday + birthday leave + bank holidays
• Stock options
• Enhanced pension scheme
• Private health insurance
• Cycle to Work + Electric Car schemes
• Learning and Development budget
• Monthly company social days + annual company events
• Fully stocked staff kitchen
• Hybrid, flexible working
• Visa & relocation support (where applicable)

You can find more information about us at www.betterorigin.co.uk 
 
Better Origin embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.