R&D Engineer – Solar Desalination Technologies
Listed on 2026-09-04
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Engineering
Process Engineer, Water Engineer
About the Role
Houston, TX | Primarily Lab-Based | Up to 15% Travel
Sol Mem LLC is seeking a hands‑on, detail‑oriented R&D Engineer to support our research and development team as we bring transformative water treatment technologies to market. In this role, you will contribute to the advancement of a technology currently at TRL 6-7, supporting design iterations, performance testing, and system validation as we accelerate toward commercial readiness. You'll work closely with senior engineers and researchers to build and operate pilot‑scale systems and help shape Sol Mem's growing technology portfolio.
About Sol MemSol Mem LLC is a Houston-based technology startup spun out of Rice University and the NSF's Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology‑Enabled Water Treatment (NEWT). Since 2017, we've been committed to improving lives through innovative, sustainable, and energy‑efficient water treatment technologies.
We combine cutting‑edge research with novel engineering to develop disruptive solutions for off‑grid community and industrial applications. Our team blends deep technical expertise, entrepreneurial spirit, and a shared mission to make clean water more accessible and affordable.
Key Responsibilities- Support the R&D team in lab and field‑based pilot system construction, testing, and troubleshooting
- Assist in designing and iterating on pilot‑scale water treatment systems to improve performance and reduce costs
- Run experiments, collect and analyze data, and document results to support technical milestones on federally funded projects
- Contribute technical content (data, figures, narrative input) to support grant proposal writing under the guidance of senior staff
- Support development of techno‑economic cost models using process modeling and basic engineering calculations
- Help prepare technical materials and data summaries for internal and external stakeholders
- Assist with procurement and organization of lab materials and equipment
- Travel occasionally (up to 15%) for field tests, pilot deployments, or customer engagement
- Bachelor's degree in Environmental, Chemical, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field
- 1-3 years of engineering design experience, ideally involving water/wastewater treatment systems or process equipment
- Foundational knowledge of process engineering and system integration
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast‑paced startup environment
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey technical information clearly
- Interest in startup environments and cross‑functional collaboration
- Exposure to membrane desalination, thermal processes, or advanced water treatment systems
- Proficiency in AutoCAD, process modeling software (e.g. COMSOL), or similar engineering tools
- EIT (Engineer in Training) certification or progress toward FE/PE
- Familiarity with water chemistry and industrial water treatment challenges
- Experience with data analysis and basic cost‑performance modeling
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