ZALTRIS
Technical Development Engineer — Early-Stage Water Treatment Technology
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About Zaltris
Zaltris is an early-stage water technology venture developing a modular wastewater treatment solution for coffee processing facilities in East Africa.
Coffee washing stations can generate large volumes of highly polluted wastewater containing suspended solids, dissolved organic compounds, colour and strong odour.
Our aim is to develop a simple, modular and cost-effective treatment system that can operate in the challenging conditions of coffee-processing facilities, including seasonal peaks and periods of inactivity.
Zaltris has already completed initial laboratory research and comparative testing of filtration and adsorption materials. We are now moving from laboratory research to engineering and physical prototype development, with an initial field test planned at a coffee washing station in Uganda.
The opportunity
We are looking for an early-career water, wastewater or process engineer who would like to help us develop the first Zaltris prototype.
This is not a conventional internship or a conventional graduate position. It is an opportunity to become involved in an early-stage technology venture at the point where laboratory research is being translated into a real-world engineering solution.
We are looking for someone who wants to be involved not only in designing the system, but in taking it through prototype fabrication, field installation, testing and subsequent improvement.
The initial engagement will be part-time and flexible, with paid project work. The exact arrangement will depend on the candidate's experience, availability and the stage of the project.
For the right person, there is an opportunity to continue with Zaltris as the technology develops and potentially become part of the core technical/founding team, including the possibility of an equity-based role.
What you would work on
The initial technical challenge is to develop a treatment train that can take raw coffee-processing wastewater through:
- Raw wastewater
- Robust pretreatment
- Clarification/filtration
- Activated-carbon treatment
- Treated effluent
Your work may include:
- Developing the pretreatment concept
- Hydraulic and process calculations
- Filtration and solids-separation design
- Clarification and sedimentation concepts
- Activated-carbon system design
- Sizing and configuration of treatment stages
- Considering gravity-fed and low-energy operation
- Designing for highly variable seasonal wastewater volumes
- Developing a modular prototype
- Preparing technical drawings, specifications and engineering documentation
- Supporting prototype fabrication and assembly
- Working with local fabrication partners where appropriate
- Participating in installation and commissioning
- Supporting field testing at a coffee-processing facility in Uganda or elsewhere in East Africa
- Observing the system under real operating conditions
- Analysing test results and helping improve the design through subsequent iterations
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The objective is not to build a conventional wastewater treatment plant, but to find the simplest, smallest and most cost-effective engineering solution that can reliably treat coffee-processing wastewater.
Who we are looking for
You may be:
- A recent graduate
- An MSc student or graduate
- A PhD researcher
- A research assistant
- An early-career engineer
- A young professional looking to move into environmental technology or water innovation
We are particularly interested in people with a background in:
- Water & Wastewater Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Process Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering with water-treatment experience
Useful experience or interests include:
- Industrial wastewater
- Filtration
- Sedimentation and clarification
- Adsorption
- Activated carbon
- Process design
- Hydraulics
- CAD
- Prototype development
- Low-energy or decentralised treatment systems
You do not need to have experience with coffee wastewater specifically.
What matters most to us
We are looking for someone who:
- Enjoys solving real engineering problems
- Is comfortable working across scientific and engineering disciplines
- Wants to see an idea move from laboratory research to a physical prototype
- Is interested in practical experimentation and field testing
- Can work independently in an early-stage environment
- Is curious, hands-on and willing to iterate when the first design doesn't work perfectly
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You would work alongside Zaltris's scientific lead, Dr Nataliya Shcherban, whose work focuses on the chemistry and adsorption aspects of the technology.
Prototype and field work
The first prototype is intended for testing at a coffee washing station in Uganda.
The role is primarily flexible and part-time during the initial development stage, but may involve travel to Uganda or other East African locations for prototype installation, testing and optimisation.
Any project-related travel will be funded by Zaltris.
We see field experience as an important part of the development process: the person involved in designing the system should ideally have the opportunity to see how it performs under real operating conditions and use that experience to improve the next iteration.
What we offer
- The opportunity to work on a real-world environmental technology challenge from an early stage
- Hands-on involvement in engineering, prototype development and field testing
- Flexible, part-time project involvement during the initial stage
- Paid project work, with the exact arrangement discussed with the selected candidate
- Project-related travel funded by Zaltris where required
- The opportunity to work alongside an experienced scientific lead and a multidisciplinary team
- The possibility of continuing with Zaltris as the technology develops
- For the right person, the potential to become part of the core technical/founding team, including an equity-based opportunity
Location
Flexible / Remote
We are particularly interested in candidates based in:
UK · Malta · Uganda / East Africa
However, we are open to discussing the opportunity with suitable candidates elsewhere.
Interested?
If you are an engineer, researcher or early-career technical professional who would like to help take a water-treatment technology from laboratory research to prototype and field testing, we would be interested to hear from you.
Please apply through LinkedIn or contact:
Tania Williams
Co-Founder, Zaltris
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