Careers Wales

Work Activities

As a Process Development Technologist, you will find and develop new processes, as well as improving existing ones. You work to reduce costs, increase efficiency and safety, improve product quality and find environmentally-friendly processes.

Once Process Development Technologists have developed a research prototype of a new product in the laboratory, Process Development Scientists find out how to standardise the item and produce it on a larger scale. This is known as 'scaling up'. Process Development Technologists study technical reports of the prototype. Then, you write your own reports to specify how the process needed to develop it should work.

You are very much part of a team, working alongside people such as Research Scientists, Engineers and Technicians. For example, you discuss computer-aided design (CAD) models and research papers. You get advice from Engineers to make sure the right materials are available to make the product.

Process Development Technologists can work with suppliers, Contract Managers and customers. You might lead teams, including other Scientists and Technicians, and have overall responsibility for the cost, safety and timescale of the project.

Increasingly, Process Development Technologists also need to take account of environmental issues. You consider ways to reduce the amount of energy used in the process, or the possibility of using materials that can be recycled.

You plan and carry out a pilot test on the most promising process, carefully recording and analysing the results. This might uncover technical problems that you must solve before manufacturing can begin.

When a decision has been made on the best process to use, you set up and test the process in the laboratory, studying it carefully.

Process Development Technologists often use sophisticated technology, including computers, to monitor process and production trials, and to find and identify faults. You use technology to measure and control conditions such as pressure and temperature, for example, in metal and aerospace industries.

Process Development Technologists also carry out risk assessments to make sure the process is safe, and to identify any training needs for the staff who will use the new equipment and technology. You check and follow safety laws and regulations.

You evaluate the process trials, identifying and tackling any problems. Depending on the results of these trials, full-scale production will then begin.

Process Development Technologists regularly evaluate production, demonstrating that the process is an improvement on the previous one and identifying any new steps, methods or technology needed to make sure the process keeps improving. If you need to, you will advise that a piece of machinery or a raw material must be changed to make the process more efficient or to reduce costs.

Process Development Technologists sometimes need to wear protective clothing such as gloves and masks. You might have to travel to production sites, to assess a trial or full-scale production.

Being able to read, write and speak Welsh may be an advantage when you’re looking for work in Wales.