Chemical Process Development Engineer

What We Do

Aspen is a technology leader in sustainability and electrification solutions. The Company’s aerogel technology enables its customers and partners to achieve their own objectives around the global megatrends of resource efficiency, e‑mobility, and clean energy. Aspen’s Pyro Thin® products address thermal runaway challenges within the electric vehicle market. The Company’s Cryogel® and Pyrogel® products are valued by the world’s largest energy infrastructure companies.

Aspen’s strategy is to partner with world‑class industry leaders to leverage its Aerogel Technology Platform® into additional high‑value markets. Aspen is headquartered in Northborough, Massachusetts.

• We Do the Right Thing
• We are Problem Solvers
• We are Allies
• We Drive Forward

The Chemical Process Development Engineer will report to the Technical Manager of Process Development and play a key role in advancing aerogel manufacturing technologies. This position is responsible for supporting strategic and technical process design, development, and optimization to aid both R&D and manufacturing operations.

The Engineer will support the development of next‑generation aerogel production methods and process technologies, while also contributing to the scale‑up and optimization of existing and new products. The role demands expertise in chemical engineering fundamentals, process modeling, and cross‑functional collaboration to drive improvements in efficiency, safety, and product quality.

• Support technically transformational process changes in manufacturing and partner with R&D to identify, develop, and execute next generation manufacturing of aerogel composites.
• Partner with R&D and Plant Engineering to identify, develop and execute new product and process improvements in safety, production capacity, yield, and cost reduction.
• Partner with R&D to interpret product design requirements to determine feasibility, process steps required, and cost to manufacture.
• Support the successful introduction of new products and processes via the trial manufacturing process. Lead and/or execute the experimental work required to support scale‑up activities and develop a robust commercial scale aerogel manufacturing process from small‑scale laboratory data.
• Build upon lab and trial generated learnings to establish and implement full‑scale standards, documentation, and procedures for all new and existing products to ensure manufacturing capabilities; includes updating and/or generating work instructions, standard operating procedures, and process flow diagrams (PFD).
• Analyze process and quality data to improve and/or troubleshoot the aerogel manufacturing process; determine root cause of failure modes to develop corrective actions.
• Develop project goals and priorities with the Technical Manager in collaboration with Manufacturing, Plant Engineering, Quality, and EHS&S.
• Support project teams through developmental phases of engineering projects related to process equipment including conceptual design of both process and equipment. Assist in design requirements managed through the management of change process; includes design, equipment procurement, construction, installation, start‑up, commissioning, validation, and qualification of facilities and/or equipment.
• Document User Requirement Specifications and qualification plans for new processes and/or equipment related to the manufacturing of aerogel and/or supporting processes, i.e. reclamation equipment/processes.
• Adopt and follow Aspen’s core values of Safety, Quality, Integrity, Teamwork, Customer and Innovation on both a personal and professional level.
• Adopt and follow Aspen’s core values of problem solving, driving forward, doing the right thing, and being an ally on both a personal and professional level.

• 2–5 years’ experience in chemical process fundamentals and/or process design and development.
• Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering.
• Knowledge of chemical process development, preferably with a focus on silica synthesis and modification, or a broad knowledge of material engineering.
• Knowledge of pilot and manufacturing operations, and the…