Research and Development Engineer Associate

Role: Research and Development Engineer Associate — Full-Time

About Novasensa

Novasensa is a deep-technology company developing commercially scalable, low-discharge hydrometallurgical processes for recovering critical and strategic metals from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries, printed circuit boards, and complex electronic waste streams. Our work directly contributes to India's critical mineral security and the circular economy. Novasensa operates with a small, high-caliber team and is scaling fast.

Commercialisation and Scale-Up Phase

Novasensa is transitioning core technologies from advanced research and development into commercial deployment, setting up Rajasthan's first hydrometallurgical plant for extracting critical minerals from electronic waste and end-of-life batteries. This phase offers exposure to the complete journey from laboratory development to plant commissioning.

The Role

You will join Novasensa's core R&D team and contribute directly to the development and optimisation of hydrometallurgical recycling process flowsheets. This is a laboratory-intensive role.

What You Will Work On

• Designing and executing laboratory experiments in leaching, solvent extraction, precipitation, crystallisation, and impurity control
• Preparing solutions, running controlled trials, tracking mass balances, and troubleshooting process bottlenecks
• Recording, analysing, and presenting experimental data with clear conclusions and next-step logic
• Supporting scale-up from beaker-level experiments to pilot systems
• Coordinating procurement, sample tracking, documentation, and vendor interactions

This role requires physical wet laboratory work, discipline, and the ability to work around experimental timelines.

Who Is a Strong Fit

We are looking for people who are serious about learning, ownership, and real-world impact.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Comfortable with wet laboratory work — solution preparation, pH control, titration, filtration, and phase separation
• Ability to read and engage with technical literature in hydrometallurgy or adjacent fields
• Want to own their experiments, not just execute instructions
• Thrive in environments where the problem changes faster than the protocol

Qualifications

• Hold a B.Tech, M.Tech, or M.Sc in Chemical Engineering, Metallurgy, Materials Science, or Chemistry

Engagement Structure

• Full-Time Role with Probationary Onboarding (Months 1–2)
• Immediately own live experiments alongside senior engineers.
• Goal is mutual validation: assessing execution and scientific thinking, and assessing the environment.
• Respectful parting ways if the fit is not right at the end of the probationary period.
• Full-Time Confirmation
• Candidates demonstrating the ability to build and deliver will be confirmed as Full-Time Associates.

Compensation and Financial Upside

• Competitive Base Salary: Commensurate with skills and experience.
• Performance Bonus: Annual bonus of 5–15% tied to delivery and ownership.
• Wealth Creation (ESOPs): Eligibility for the Employee Stock Ownership Plan after 18 months for high-performing team members.

Commitment

• 12-month stability commitment and a standard NDA are required as part of the full-time offer.

Why Start Your Career at Novasensa

• Work on a nationally critical problem — India's mineral security and circular economy.
• Gain rare exposure to the full arc from laboratory development to plant commissioning.
• Work directly with founders and senior engineers on core technical decisions.
• Build hands-on expertise in process development and pilot engineering.
• Grow in an environment where execution and ownership matter more than hierarchy or tenure.