Senior Process Engineer-Sustainable Energy Solutions

Overview

RTI International is an independent, scientific research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Our vision is to address the world's most critical problems with technical and science-based solutions in pursuit of a better future. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach—one that integrates expertise across social, statistical, data, and laboratory sciences, engineering, and other technical disciplines to solve the world's most challenging problems.

We believe in the promise of science and technical solutions, and we push ourselves every day to deliver on that promise for the good of people, communities, and businesses in the US and around the world. If you are looking for the opportunity to make a real difference, RTI is the place for you.

The Sustainable Energy Solutions team develops and scales innovative technologies that support a low-carbon future, including hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol production; waste-to-value and biofuels technologies (including sustainable aviation fuels); plastics recycling and upcycling; and critical minerals recovery.

We are currently seeking Senior Process Engineer to lead the technical execution of applied R&D projects in the Sustainable Energy Solutions team. Technologies under development include low-carbon chemicals such as hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol production, waste-to-value technologies including biofuels, bioproducts, and sustainable aviation fuels production, plastics recycling and upcycling, and critical minerals recovery. Our projects range from lab-bench- to pilot-scales and are performed in a variety of testing environments on site at RTI or at partner's sites.

You will manage the on-time and on-budget execution of large, complex bench- and pilot-scale demonstration projects, delivering high-quality work in a collaborative team environment with minimal supervision. You will lead multifunctional project teams, including chemists, engineers, and external service providers, to ensure safe, clean, and productive project execution. You will oversee all phases of project delivery, including reviews, startup, site preparation, operations, and decommissioning.

Primary responsibilities also include leading process design activities; sizing, selecting, procuring, fabricating, and installing instruments and equipment across laboratory, bench, and pilot scales; and developing and executing detailed research plans. In addition, you will develop commissioning plans and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to support effective and compliant project operations.

Additional responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

• Leads and participates in process hazards analysis (PHA), Hazard and Operability Studies (HAZOP), and Level of Protection Analysis (LOPA) to evaluate process risks, provides feedback, and takes on responsibility and accountability for execution of recommendations arising from these studies.
• Troubleshoots and commissions process systems consisting of multiple unit operations,
• Commissions, tunes, and improves PLC and ladder-logic based control systems
• Operate bench-scale process systems and pilot-scale processes according to operational plans using SOPs.
• Maintain and troubleshoot equipment and processes.
• Set-up and operate analytical instruments such as gas chromatographs and related instruments.
• Responsible and accountable for ensuring project teams follow safety procedures and protocols as established by RTI's Environment, Health, and Safety team.
• Responsible and accountable for ensuring project teams follow established procedures for Management of Change as established by RTI.
• Maintain accurate records of experimental protocols, results, technical data; complete data analyses for inclusion in technical reports, presentations, and peer-reviewed scientific publications.
• Contribute to written technical reports, presentations and peer-reviewed scientific publications.

• Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering or Process Engineering and 15+ years of experience.
• Master's Degree in Chemical Enginnering or Process Engineering and 12+ years of experience
• Ph.D in Chemical Engineering or Process Engineering and 8+ years of experience
• Prior field experience leading process design, fabrication, start-up, and operations in chemical processes plants is a must.
• Strong demonstrated background in reaction engineering, process engineering, and process control.
• Experience participating in PHAs and HAZOPs.
• Experience with control system design and implementation is desirable.

#LI-BM1

For San Francisco, CA USA Job Postings Only:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Further information is available here.

RTI accepts applications to our job openings from candidates with criminal histories or conviction records in accordance with all…