Engineering Lead

Brightsmith; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Brightsmith is partnering with an innovative clean technology company to appoint an Engineering Lead to join the expanding engineering team in Vancouver, BC. You will report to the VP of Engineering and lead the process engineering function across pilot, demonstration and future scale-up, while mentoring engineers and shaping the pathway to commercial deployment.

This role blends hands-on technical work with leadership in a fast-growing start-up, ensuring high-quality deliverables,

Qualifications

• Degree qualified in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, or related discipline.
• Significant experience in process engineering in industrial manufacturing or process industries.
• Experience supporting pilot, demonstration or first‑of‑a‑kind technologies through scale-up towards commercial operation.
• Strong understanding of core process engineering deliverables, including PFDs, P&IDs, process calculations, equipment specifications and commissioning documentation.
• Experience reviewing and approving technical engineering work produced by others.
• Previous commissioning or plant start-up experience.
• Proven people leadership experience, including mentoring, coaching, performance reviews and managing engineering deliverables.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams and work effectively across technical functions.
• Strong technical report writing and communication skills.
• Comfortable working within a fast-paced, collaborative start-up environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the process engineering function across pilot, demonstration and future commercial scale projects.
• Drive process scale-up activities, supporting the transition from demonstration plant through to commercial deployment.
• Develop, review and approve key engineering documentation including PFDs, P&IDs, process calculations, equipment datasheets, commissioning procedures and technical reports.
• Provide technical oversight across engineering activities, ensuring high-quality engineering standards and deliverables.
• Support commissioning, start-up and optimisation of process plant operations.
• Lead and develop a growing engineering team through mentoring, coaching, performance management and technical guidance.
• Coordinate work across multiple engineering disciplines, ensuring effective collaboration between process, mechanical and other technical teams.
• Work closely with R&D, operations and project teams to successfully deliver engineering milestones.
• Contribute to engineering strategy, continuous improvement and the development of best practices within a fast-growing organisation.

Skills

Process engineering

People leadership

Mentoring

Technical oversight

Documentation & reports

Cross-functional collaboration

Start-up / scale-up experience

Communication skills

Education

Chemical Engineering degree

Process Engineering-related degree

Job description

Brightsmith are currently partnering with an innovative clean technology company that is developing a first-of-its-kind industrial process to support the circular economy and sustainable manufacturing. Following continued growth, investment and the successful progression of their demonstration programme, they are looking to appoint a Engineering Lead to join their expanding engineering team.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a highly collaborative start-up at a pivotal stage of its growth. Reporting into the VP of Engineering, you will play a key role in leading the process engineering function, supporting the delivery of a demonstration plant while helping to shape the pathway to commercial scale. Alongside remaining technically hands-on, you will mentor and develop a growing team of engineers and help establish engineering best practice across the business.

The role is based in Vancouver, BC, operating on a hybrid basis (4 days per week on site).

Responsibilities: Engineering Lead

• Lead the process engineering function across pilot, demonstration and future commercial scale projects.
• Drive process scale-up activities, supporting the transition from demonstration plant through to commercial deployment.
• Develop, review and approve key engineering documentation including PFDs, P&IDs, process calculations, equipment datasheets, commissioning procedures and technical reports.
• Provide technical oversight across engineering activities, ensuring high-quality engineering standards and deliverables.
• Support commissioning, start-up and optimisation of process plant operations.
• Lead and develop a growing engineering team through mentoring, coaching, performance management and technical guidance.
• Coordinate work across multiple engineering disciplines, ensuring effective collaboration between process, mechanical and other technical teams.
• Work closely with R&D, operations and project teams to successfully deliver engineering milestones.
• Contribute to engineering strategy, continuous improvement and the development of best practices within a fast-growing organisation.

Experience Required: Engineering Lead

• Degree qualified in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering or a related discipline.
• Significant experience within process engineering in industrial manufacturing or process industries.
• Demonstrable experience supporting pilot, demonstration or first-of-a-kind technologies through scale-up towards commercial operation.
• Strong understanding of core process engineering deliverables, including PFDs, P&IDs, process calculations, equipment specifications and commissioning documentation.
• Experience reviewing and approving technical engineering work produced by others.
• Previous commissioning or plant start-up experience.
• Proven people leadership experience, including mentoring, coaching, performance reviews and managing engineering deliverables.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams and work effectively across technical functions.
• Strong technical report writing and communication skills.
• Comfortable working within a fast-paced, collaborative start-up environment.

Highly Desirable Industry Backgrounds

We are particularly interested in candidates from industries such as:

• Advanced recycling or plastics recycling
• Chemical processing
• Hydrogen
• Ammonia
• Other complex process manufacturing or industrial scale-up environments