Process Operations Engineer

AquaBattery; Alphen aan den Rijn; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)

25 vacation days

Green pension scheme

Company bike

Job summary

Aquabattery is seeking a Process Operations Engineer to operate and maintain our field pilot and in-house lab systems, designing tests for multi-stack pilots to gain insights that improve battery operations. The role requires travel across the Netherlands with occasional overnight stays, especially in year one.

You will bridge lab-scale R&D, battery management software and product development, building a deep understanding of system behavior while contributing to a cleaner energy future in a

Qualifications

• Bachelor/master level degree in chemical/process engineering or closely related field.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent technical written and verbal communication in English.

Responsibilities

• Design test protocols for multi-stack systems with cross-functional teams.
• Operate and maintain field pilot and lab systems; perform maintenance and troubleshooting.

Skills

Process control

Hands-on field work

Data analysis

Technical writing

Education

MSc or BSc in Chemical/Process Engineering or related field

Tools

Python

Matlab

Job description

Summary

• Location Alphen a/d Rijn / Amsterdam Noord / Pilot site (Delft)
• Team Process Control
• Job type Full-time

About the role

Join AQUABATTERY today, a pioneering climate tech startup with a mission to commercialise a affordable, safe and sustainable long duration energy storage (LDES) based on saltwater. Our innovative flow battery technology offers an LDES solution without relying on critical or toxic raw materials.

With fresh funding secured and our first commercial product on the horizon, this is an exciting time to become part of our growing team and contribute to building a cleaner, more resilient energy future.

As our Process Operations Engineer, you’ll operate and maintain our field pilot and in-house lab systems, designing and running tests on our multi-stack pilots to generate insights that improve battery operations. Being a part of the Process Control team, you’ll bridge lab-scale R&D, battery management software and product development, building a deep understanding of how our systems behave and why. This hands-on role involves travel across the Netherlands, with occasional overnight stays, especially in the first year. As operations mature, the focus will shift towards test design, analysis and control development.

What you’ll be doing

Test Design & Experiment Planning

• Define test protocols for multi-stack systems with the Process Control, Stack and System Engineering teams
• Turn development targets and mission deliverables into test plans, defining what we need to learn, measure and achieve
• Link field experiments with lab work, validating small-scale results at scale and feeding field observations back into the lab
• Prioritise live-asset schedules across experiments, endurance cycling and maintenance
• Coordinate planned work with lab, stack, electrical and software colleagues, and pilot-site partners

System Operation & Maintenance

• Operate and monitor pilot battery systems in the field, including sampling and electrolyte analysis
• Perform preventive and corrective maintenance, minor modifications and first-line troubleshooting; coordinate specialist support as needed
• Support commissioning and start-up of new systems and test setups
• Maintain operational logs, spare parts and consumables, and keep the pilot site safe, clean and organised
• Write and maintain SOPs and HSEQ procedures for operation and maintenance

Control Modifications & Data Analysis

• Specify and coordinate software changes—such as control logic, setpoints and data logging—and hardware changes, such as sensors and instrumentation, for planned experiments
• Ensure data quality through sensor calibration, integrity checks and structured test records
• Analyse operational and experimental data, including efficiency, losses, system health and electrolyte balance, to identify trends and root causes
• Draw conclusions and recommend improvements to process control and operating conditions

Technical Communication & Documentation

• Write test reports linking results to development targets and deliverables.
• Regularly report on system performance, test progress and operational status to internal and external audiences.
• Document learnings in the operational knowledge base to inform future systems.

Function requirements

• MSc or BSc in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, or a closely related field (e.g. electrochemical, mechanical or chemical process technology)
• 2+ years of experience in a process, pilot plant, R&D or operations engineering role
• Experience designing and executing experiments, and analyzing the results
• Comfortable with hands-on work on industrial systems (pumps, valves, filters, piping, sensors)
• Strong data analysis skills; Python or Matlab experience is a strong plus
• Understanding of process control (control loops, setpoints, PLC-based systems), enough to specify what needs to change and why
• Ability to read and understand technical documentation, such as P&ID's, Process Flow Diagrams, etc.
• Initiative: you spot what needs testing or fixing, propose a plan and drive it, rather than waiting for instructions
• Clear technical writing and communication in English
• Valid category B driver’s license (own transport is a plus)

Why AQUABATTERY?

• The opportunity to provide vital support to the energy transition at our state-of-the-art ETCA facility
• A collaborative, multicultural work environment where practical observations and technical insights are valued
• A structured, performance-driven culture that supports professional growth and technical skill development
• Competitive salary plus Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)
• Work-life balance, including 25 vacation days and flexible working arrangements
• Green pension scheme (50% employer contribution) and collective health insurance discount
• Company bike for commuting
• Regular team events and opportunities to shape the future of clean energy