ENGINEER - Design/Process - Pilot Plants

Southwest Research Institute; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio is seeking an Engineer for Design/Process in Pilot Plants to support process development and plant operations. The role emphasizes expansion of the technical portfolio, project support, and mentoring of operators and engineers throughout commissioning and test execution.

You will design processes for chemical or refinery systems, conduct research in chemical and petroleum areas, and contribute to safety and proposal activities while developing your

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering is required.
• 0 years: Knowledge or experience in biomass conversion, biofuels, hydrotreating, carbon capture, carbon utilization, plastics recycling, pyrolysis, coking, distillation, electrolysis, clean hydrogen.

Responsibilities

• Design processes or unit operations for chemical or refinery systems.
• Plan and conduct research and process development in chemical, gas, and petroleum areas.
• Expand expertise in decarbonization, pyrolysis, batch/CSTR kinetics, biomass conversion.
• Support projects via data compilation, mass and energy balances, operator training, and safety reviews.
• Create process simulations and develop PFDs, P&IDs, I/O diagrams, and control strategies.
• Provide technical oversight to engineers, technicians and analysts; assist in proposal writing and publications.

Skills

Process design

Pilot Plants

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering

Job description

ENGINEER - Design/Process - Pilot Plants

01-01813

Who We Are:

Pilot Plant Design and Fabrication Section works in pilot plant design, procurement, construction, and operating services and process development of new first of their kind processes.

Objectives of this Role:

• Supporting operations for pilot plants for process development by expanding our technical portfolio of offerings to our clients.
• Increased utilization by supporting existing projects and conducting business development for existing and new areas.
• Develop ability to execute assigned plant tasks with increasing independence, including support of commissioning, troubleshooting, and test execution activities.
• Train operators and engineers to maintain pilot plant area and operations with a high degree of "technical" success.
• Emphasis on department safety culture, waste disposal, procedures, ISO.

Daily and Monthly Responsibilities:

• Design processes or unit operations for chemical or refinery systems.
• Plan and conduct research and process development work in chemical, gas, and petroleum areas.
• Expand particular area of expertise (ideally decarbonization, pyrolysis, batch/CSTR kinetics, biomass conversion).
• Support ongoing projects through data compilation, mass and energy balances, operator training, procedure development, laboratory upkeep, maintenance, and safety review/document preparation. Department safety emphasis.
• Create process simulations using commercial software in addition to input/output, process flow and process instrumentation diagrams.
• Provide technical oversight to other engineers, technicians, and analysts.
• Emphasis on proposal writing and publications.
• Communicate with vendors, clients, and operators to set up equipment and construct systems for new processes.
• Promote and secure new work as trained through mentorship and internal business development training.

Requirements:

• Requires a Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering.
• 0 years: Experience or knowledge in any of the following areas: biomass conversion, biofuels, hydrotreating, carbon capture, carbon utilization, plastics recycling, pyrolysis, coking, distillation, electrolysis, clean hydrogen.
• High attention to detail in calculations, design, and operations. Must be able to develop process flow diagrams, process and instrumentation diagrams, I/O diagrams, and process control strategies.
• Must be able to communicate clearly and interface with clients or potential clients as needed in the course of the project or proposal process. Must be able to conduct tasks in parallel. Experience with actual hands-on buildup of processes and test systems is preferred.
• Direct experience with chemical engineering process development work (developing Excel spreadsheets for chemical engineering calculations and data compilation) to include designing and conducting lab scale to pilot scale experiments is preferred.
• A valid/clear driver's license is required.

Special Requirements:

Must be a U.S. person (i.e., U.S. citizen, non-U.S. citizen national, lawful permanent resident, asylee, or refugee) due to ITAR work in section.

For benefits information at our San Antonio location, click here .
For benefits information at all other locations, click here .

An Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, and veteran status.