Meet James Ross
“It’s engineering with a sensory target, you’re not just running a process, you’re creating something people will taste.”
- Job Title: Process Technologist
- Company: Lionel Hitchen Ltd
- Degree: MEng Chemical Engineering, University of Manchester
Choosing Chemical Engineering
From an early interest in engineering to specialising in process development within the flavour industry, James Ross has built his career on curiosity, technical expertise and a willingness to get hands-on. Now a Process Technologist at Lionel Hitchen Ltd, James works at the intersection of engineering and sensory science, helping to ensure flavour products are made efficiently, consistently and to the highest quality.
James knew from his early teens that engineering was the path he wanted to follow.
“I liked chemistry and I liked the idea of processes and equipment and actually making things. Chemical engineering fit better with that than some of the other disciplines.”
He chose Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry at A-level before going on to complete an MEng in Chemical Engineering at the University of Manchester, including industrial study.
James believes that having a clear goal early on was helpful:
“If you have an idea and talk about it, you’ll often find people volunteering advice or help. I spoke to several chemical engineers before picking my A-level options. That experience was really valuable.”
Gaining Industry Experience
As part of his degree, James undertook an industrial placement with PepsiCo in an R&D team. Prior to that, he had worked at RSSL, a contract testing laboratory and subsidiary of Mondelez International, giving him early exposure to the food sector.
His placement at PepsiCo confirmed his interest in food and drink manufacturing:
“Food felt less explored than some other engineering disciplines. There’s a lot of opportunity for change and growth, which I really enjoy.”
Working across lab testing, pilot-scale trials and factory environments gave him a broad understanding of how products move from concept to production. He strongly recommends industrial placements:
“I learned a lot in industry, not just technically, but in terms of work etiquette and soft skills. It’s extremely valuable for personal development and for the graduate job market.”
Discovering the Flavour Industry
While James was always focused on food and beverage, he did not initially set out specifically to work in flavour manufacturing.
“I saw flavour as adjacent to food and beverage. Once I did interviews and site visits, it seemed interesting in its own right and had a lot of the aspects I enjoyed.”
Now working within the flavour sector, he sees both similarities and differences compared to wider food manufacturing. The biggest distinction is the focus on sensory performance.
“Sensory is one of the biggest and most interesting aspects. In flavour, there’s an even greater focus on that.”
At the same time, his engineering skills remain central. Distillation, process knowledge and problem-solving are key parts of his role, skills that would be transferable across industries, but applied here in a uniquely flavour-focused context.
What Does a Process Technologist Do?
James’ role is split between day-to-day production support and longer-term development projects.
Around half of his time involves troubleshooting and technical support:
- Investigating distillations that are not performing as expected
- Resolving product quality issues
- Supporting manufacturing processes on site
The other half focuses on longer-term improvements and innovation, such as:
- Reformulation projects
- Process optimisation
- Evaluating new equipment
- Waste reduction initiatives
“You get the satisfaction of seeing something fixed and knowing it will go into a product you can buy in the supermarket. But you also get the longer-term satisfaction of delivering bigger projects.”
There is no typical day. Instead, James describes his work in terms of weeks – some focused on lab work such as molecular distillation, others on project work or responding to emerging issues.
Building Specialist Knowledge
One of the aspects James enjoys most is developing niche expertise.
“It feels like there aren’t many people doing exactly what I’m doing. You build up specialist knowledge and experience.”
In a smaller company, he has been able to take ownership of projects and become the go-to person in certain technical areas. He values the opportunity to lead and direct novel projects, gaining experience that would be difficult to replicate in a more rigid structure.
He also participates in sensory panels:
“If you’re on the technical floor, you’re on the panel. I probably taste about 20% of everything we send out.”
For James, the combination of technical engineering and sensory evaluation is part of what makes the flavour industry unique.
Skills Developed
Throughout his career so far, James highlights several key skills he has developed:
- Soft skills and communication – learning how to lead projects and work effectively with colleagues
- Applied distillation knowledge – adapting university theory to small-scale, batch processes
- Handling variability – working with natural raw materials that vary depending on harvest and conditions
- Identifying improvements – spotting opportunities for efficiency and innovation in a smaller business environment
“In a smaller company, you have to have an eye for improvement. You’re working out where best to use your efforts.”
Career Progression
Currently a Process Technologist, James sees his next step as progressing to Process Engineer, while remaining within R&D.
He notes that progression can look different in small versus large organisations:
“In larger companies, there are more formal mentoring structures. In smaller companies, you might not have such a structured progression path, but you gain a broader range of experience.”
Advice for Future Flavour Professionals
James’ advice is clear: gain relevant experience early and be proactive.
“Experience has been king in my case. Try to get relevant placements or job experience if you can.”
He recommends:
- Building a LinkedIn profile early
- Attending industry events
- Making contacts and using networks
- Applying strategically for placements and internships
- Having a clear plan and aligning subject choices accordingly
“If you have an idea of what you want to do, you can tune everything around that and work much more strategically.”
For students considering chemical engineering and the flavour industry, James’ journey shows how technical expertise, curiosity and a willingness to seek out opportunities can lead to a varied and rewarding career in flavour manufacturing.