Co-Founder in Residence (Engineering), Plasma-Based Industrial Water Recycling

Join us as a Founder in Residence to revolutionise industrial water recycling

You’ll work closely with the DSV team and the current Founder in Residence for this project to co-found a company that aims to revolutionise industrial wastewater treatment with novel plasma technology. Our approach offers rapid, compact, and highly effective treatment of high-strength hazardous effluents across multiple industries, including petrochemicals, chemicals, oil and gas, food and beverage, paints and coatings, and paper manufacturing.

We're after a co-founder with strong technical and engineering (e.g. process, electrical, mechanical, hydraulic) experience, ideally having developed plasma technology before. Additionally, experience in waste and wastewater management systems / processes in major facilities or connections to key industries internationally is particularly valuable.

Once the new venture is incorporated and spun-out of DSV, you and your co-founders will own the majority stake in the business and continue receiving support from the DSV team post-spinout.

The Opportunity

Industry requires the use of colossal volumes of water every day, with 40% of water demand in industrialised nations going to industrial purposes. Sources of clean, accessible water are dwindling due to unsustainable abstraction and contamination of our freshwater resources. 

Industry's growing water demands, coupled with depleting freshwater resources, have led to tighter regulations and a need for sustainable water supplies. Wastewater, an underutilised resource, presents a potential solution. However, current treatment methods are often complex, costly, and inefficient, failing to align with industry’s needs.

We're developing a ground-breaking plasma-based technology concept for industrial wastewater treatment - a compact device that rapidly processes high volumes of concentrated effluent at unprecedented speeds. Our approach offers multiple benefits: preventing toxic and methanogenic sludge generation, destroying persistent pollutants, eliminating fouling risks, and producing valuable byproducts. We're focused on outperforming existing technologies while maintaining competitive treatment costs: by enabling near-instantaneous transformation of hazardous wastewater, we alleviate operational bottlenecks and reduce expenses associated with standard water treatment and waste disposal, effectively addressing the practical challenges faced by companies worldwide.

By joining us, you'll be working towards revolutionising industrial water management across these critical sectors, addressing a significant global challenge while creating substantial value for industries worldwide.

Requirements

Most suitable candidates will likely meet multiple of the following criteria (we don't expect you to meet all):

• PhD or equivalent industry experience relating to:
• Plasma systems and torch design;
• Industrial waste / wastewater management systems design;
• Process engineering, especially in relation to wastewater;
• Technology development and testing;
• Expertise in Plasma-Based Water Treatment Systems: Experienced in designing and building plasma systems for industrial processes, leveraging both electrical and mechanical engineering principles;
• Technical Design and Development Expertise: Skilled in designing, testing, and developing new technologies from concept to functional prototypes, with a focus on mechanical systems;
• Component Sourcing and Procurement: Adept at sourcing specialised components for device development, with knowledge of industrial procurement processes;
• Project Management Skills: Capable of managing complex engineering projects, ensuring timely delivery while maintaining high standards of quality and compliance;
• Collaborative Team Player: Works effectively within multidisciplinary teams to innovate and solve complex engineering challenges;
• Analytical and Innovative Mindset: Demonstrates excellent problem-solving skills, data analysis capabilities, and openness to exploring new methods for enhancing product development and efficiency.

Personal attributes we value very highly:

• Conscientious: Detail-oriented and committed to high-quality work;
• Proactive: Takes initiative and anticipates challenges before they arise;
• Creative and Problem-Solving Skills: Innovative thinker with strong problem-solving abilities;
• Empathetic and Adept at Conflict Resolution: Skilled in understanding others' perspectives and resolving conflicts effectively;
• Growth Mindset: Embraces learning opportunities and continuous improvement;
• Flexible: Adaptable to changing circumstances and open to new ideas;
• International Perspective: Possesses a global outlook and cultural awareness.

Benefits

Our Offer

By joining DSV, you will be part of a team of operators who have founded companies and led the translation of science at some of the most respected universities, charities, funds, and government agencies. Here’s what we offer:

• Access to optimised, purpose-built, proprietary tools, resources, and processes to help create high-impact ventures from scratch;
• Opportunity area-specific know-how from our network of Partners and Advisors;
• Up to £250k in investment to incorporate the new venture and develop early proof-of-concept data;
• Guaranteed income of £4,166 per month paid as a consultancy fee until the company is launched and the pre-seed investment is secured;
• Majority equity stake in the new company for you and your co-founders;
• Continuous post-spinout support, including fundraising, commercial partnerships, recruitment, and team-building;
• Collaborative support from dozens of Founders currently at DSV across sectors.

About DSV

Deep Science Ventures (DSV) is on a mission to create a future in which both humans and the planet can thrive. We use our unique venture creation process to create, spin-out, and invest in science companies, combining available scientific knowledge and founder-type scientists into high-impact ventures. Operating in four sectors—Pharmaceuticals, Climate, Agriculture, and Computation—we tackle the challenges defining these areas by taking a first principles approach and partnering with leading institutions.