Hands-On Pilot Plant Leader for Process Scale-Up

SupportFinity™; San Leandro (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

PHNX Materials seeks a Pilot Plant Manager to run the day-to-day operations of the PHNX pilot facility, partnering with engineers, scientists, and operators to operate, troubleshoot, and improve the pilot plant converting industrial ash into valuable products.

This hands-on leadership role offers full ownership of pilot operations, with a focus on safety, process optimization, and seamless transition toward commercial scale-up.

Qualifications

• Prior experience managing day-to-day operations at a pilot plant.
• Hands-on responsibility for pilot plant equipment, operations, and troubleshooting.
• Strong mechanical and electrical aptitude with direct experience operating equipment.
• Experience managing slurry handling, material transfers, and continuous processes.
• Ability to make real-time operational decisions.
• Strong communication skills and coordinating across engineering, technical, and commercial teams.
• Willingness to work hands-on on the plant floor as needed.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day operations of the PHNX pilot facility, ensuring safe, reliable, and consistent performance.
• Guide set up and processes for pilot facility.
• Operate and oversee equipment handling high-solids slurries, including tanks, reactors, filter presses, grinders, crushers, pumps, and material handling systems.
• Make real-time operational decisions to keep processes running smoothly in a fast-paced environment.
• Execute operating procedures to meet performance, quality, and throughput targets.
• Lead equipment setup, operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Diagnose and resolve mechanical, electrical, and process issues as they arise.
• Adjust operating parameters and flows to ensure product quality and repeatability.
• Coordinate preventative maintenance and manage equipment uptime.
• Work closely with engineering and technical teams to support process development.
• Provide hands-on feedback to improve equipment design, layouts, and operations.
• Support customer-facing demonstrations and pilot runs.
• Help document learnings, operational data, and best practices to inform future scale-up.
• Own day-to-day safety at the pilot facility, enforcing PPE use, appropriate chemical handling, and safe work practices.
• Ensure adherence to SOPs, permits, and site safety requirements.
• Report and respond to safety incidents, near misses, and operational deviations.
• Serve as the central point of coordination between operations, engineering, and commercial teams.
• Communicate daily status, issues, and priorities clearly across the organization.
• Training, documentation, and knowledge transfer for future operators and facilities.

Skills

Pilot plant operations

Hands-on operator

Mechanical aptitude

Electrical aptitude

Team coordination

Safety compliance

Tools

SCADA

Industrial equipment

Job description

PHNX Materials seeks a Pilot Plant Manager to run the day-to-day operations of the PHNX pilot facility, partnering with engineers, scientists, and operators to operate, troubleshoot, and improve the pilot plant converting industrial ash into valuable products.

This hands-on leadership role offers full ownership of pilot operations, with a focus on safety, process optimization, and seamless transition toward commercial scale-up.