JOB FUNCTION / PURPOSE:

The process development engineer will contribute to a range of activities related to the development of efficient, eco-friendly, and economic processes for the production of photosynthetically derived fuels.  Contributions will be required across the process development/deployment spectrum including design and execution of laboratory scale experiments, transitioning processes through pilot scale demonstration, and supporting full scale commercial deployment.

The successful applicant will be charged with identifying and evaluating process configurations appropriate for a particular product, identifying and assessing the applicability of diverse process equipment, and providing recommendations on methods to optimize process performance and/or operability.  Additionally the process development engineering will develop standard engineering documentation (PFDs, PIDs, mass and energy balances) and contribute to efforts to develop cost-of-goods models.

The successful applicant will have a hands-on, practical approach to problem solving with a solid chemical engineering background and the ability to function as both an individual and group contributor.  Effective oral and written communication skills are prerequisite given the need to continually exchange information with a variety of groups with the company.  The ideal candidate is someone who develops new ideas, learns on the fly and is excited by technical challenges and aggressive time lines. The position is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

RESPONSIBILITES:

• Develop industrially deployable processes for Joule’s target products

• Design and execution of hypothesis driven experimental plans, analysis of resulting data, and preparation of reports

• Develop novel test fixtures and/or methodologies to cost effectively increase understanding of the impact of key process variables

• Complete mass and energy balances across unit operations

• Contribute to the development of overall mass and energy balances

• Assist with cost-of-goods analyses

• Contribute to the development of engineering design basis packages including:  process flow diagrams (PFDs), process and instrumentation diagrams (PIDs), equipment lists, process descriptions, equipment specifications, etc.

• Oversee internal and external equipment testing through identification of equipment vendors

• Integrate information from key stakeholders into the process design by maintaining a cross-functional perspective and while effectively communicating with other groups within the company

• Identify areas of process risk; identify, assess, and implement risk mitigation strategies

• Assist with initial startup and operation of pilot scale equipment, including development of SOPs, participation in HAZOP reviews, etc.

QUALIFICATIONS:

The successful candidate will be a high energy, enthusiastic self-starter with a solid chemical/process engineering background.  A Master’s degree in chemical engineering or a related field with six or more years of relevant experience is required.  Relevant experience includes fuel ethanol production, biodiesel production, chemical refining, and industrial fermentation.

In addition an ideal candidate will possess several of the following skills/attributes:

·         Understanding of a broad range of chemical processing unit operations (e.g. solids separation, distillation, stripping, etc)

·         Previous exposure to biologically based processes

·         Proficiency with process modeling and numerical analysis software (e.g. Excel, Aspen, Matlab)

·         Experience with operation of laboratory, pilot, and large-scale process equipment

·         Ability to work well in a team as well as independently with minimal supervision

·         Strong communication, technical writing, and presentation skills

·         Proficiency for multitasking in a fast-paced start-up environment