Pilot Plant Operator

Worksite:
Hawaii (relocation covered)
• 6-9 Month Contract

Ayrton Energy's mission is to propel the global shift towards sustainable energy with the broad deployment of our cutting‑edge hydrogen storage technology, reshaping hydrogen distribution to mirror the safety, simplicity, and efficiency of traditional fuels such as diesel or gasoline. As a part of this, Ayrton is looking to hire a hands‑on Pilot Plant Operator to support process development and scale‑up work at our Hawaii‑based pilot facility for a 6–9 month contract.

• You enjoy variety over routine — running experimental and semi‑continuous processes rather than a fixed, large‑scale operation
• You're comfortable troubleshooting on the fly and adjusting to process changes as engineering and R&D teams iterate
• You like solving difficult problems
• You like working closely with process engineers and scientists, not just following a fixed SOP
• You're open to a defined‑term contract and relocating to Hawaii for the assignment
• You take pride in careful documentation and disciplined safety practices, even in a fast‑moving, experimental environment

• Ensure safe operations of Ayrton pilot plant in adherence with Ayrton and client site’s safety protocols, including chemical handling, PPE requirements and emergency procedures
• Operate pilot‑scale process equipment (reactors, distillation/separation units, pumps, and associated instrumentation) per batch and campaign schedules
• Execute experimental runs and process trials alongside engineering and R&D staff, adjusting operating parameters as directed
• Monitor and log process data (temperatures, pressures, flow rates, yields), flag deviations and provide feedback on process optimization/improvements
• Perform routine equipment setup, changeover, and basic troubleshooting
• Run basic lab analysis eg. FTIR, GC‑TCD using Ayrton SOPs
• Liaise with stakeholders on site for operational coordination eg. Startups, shutdowns, handling process upsets etc.
• Follow and help write standard operating procedures (SOPs) as processes evolve
• Perform minor maintenance activities eg. Filter change and coordinating with contractors and site client for more substantial maintenance activities
• Ensure good housekeeping in the pilot plant and Ayrton’s work area
• Supervise and train junior team members eg. interns

• The client develops trust and confidence in Ayrton’s technology and is asking to extend the pilot operations or partner on the next project
• Ayrton’s pilot plant runs 2 batches/day consistently
• Ayrton’s pilot plant has been optimized to achieve 10kg/day equivalent of H2 stored/released
• Good data logs and documentation allows for R&D and Engineering team to analyze pilot plant operations, gather insights for learnings to be applied to Ayrton’s next project
• You've contributed practical, operator's‑eye‑view improvements to the process and operations

• 5+ years of experience as a process/plant/chemical operator, ideally including pilot plant, lab‑scale, or R&D production environments
• Comfort working in a smaller, less routine, more experimental setting compared to a full production plant
• Comfort performing a variety of activities from operating and troubleshooting equipment to maintaining equipment to running lab analysis
• Working knowledge of basic process equipment (pumps, compressors, valves etc.) , instrumentation and control (manual and/or DCS/PLC‑based systems)
• Ability to troubleshoot process issues using structured approaches eg. 5 whys
• Strong documentation habits — comfortable logging data accurately and following/updating SOPs
• Ability to work independently and communicate clearly with engineering/R&D teams and external stakeholders
• Mu…