Pilot Plant Chemical Process Technician

Xerion Advanced Battery Corp; Kettering (OH); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Xerion Advanced Battery Corp in Kettering, OH is building a pilot-scale chemical processing facility. We seek a Chemical Process Technician to safely operate, monitor, and troubleshoot equipment, supporting startup and ongoing pilot operations alongside engineering staff.

The role requires hands-on experience in chemical processing environments, strict adherence to SOPs, and a teamwork-driven approach to grow with the early operations team.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• 2+ years in chemical manufacturing, refining, metals processing, mineral processing, electroplating, hydrometallurgy, or similar.
• Experience operating industrial process or production equipment.
• Safe handling of hazardous chemicals in an industrial setting.
• Experience with PPE and elevated hazard controls.
• Knowledge of lockout/tagout (LOTO) and equipment isolation.
• Familiarity with work permits (hot work, confined space, etc.).
• Understanding OSHA requirements for chemical/industrial operations.
• Experience assisting with process troubleshooting.
• Ability to work safely alone or in a team.

Responsibilities

• Safely operate and monitor chemical process equipment and systems.
• Startup, shutdown, and basic troubleshooting per SOPs.
• Follow SOPs, work instructions, safety procedures, and PPE rules.
• Handle, transfer, and process chemicals and raw materials safely.
• Monitor process parameters and identify abnormal conditions.
• Record operating data, equipment conditions, and observations.
• Perform routine inspections, sampling, and housekeeping.
• Assist with corrosion monitoring and preventive maintenance.
• Assist engineering with process trials and equipment changes.
• Contribute to developing and improving operating and safety procedures.
• Assist with training additional operators as operations expand.
• Perform other duties to support pilot plant operations.

Skills

Industrial operations

Hazardous chemicals handling

LOTO

PPE procedures

Teamwork

Process troubleshooting

Safety procedures

Operate equipment

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

P&IDs

Job description

Pilot Plant Chemical Process Technician

Job Type: Full-time

Schedule: Day shift

About Xerion Advanced Battery Corp.

Xerion Advanced Battery Corp (XABC) located in Kettering, OH is a late-stage startup focused on delivering a novel, domestic pathway to refine critical minerals and manufacture lithium-ion battery electrodes. Our core technology, DirectPlateTM, is a fundamental breakthrough for the most important modern industrial processes in metallurgy and advanced electrode manufacturing.

Job Summary

We are seeking a Chemical Process Technician to support the startup and operation of a pilot-scale chemical processing facility. This position is responsible for the safe operation, monitoring, and basic troubleshooting of chemical process equipment and associated systems.

The ideal candidate will have prior hands-on experience in a chemical plant, refinery, metals processing facility, or similar industrial environment. This position will be part of the initial operating team and will work closely with engineering and technical personnel during startup and ongoing pilot plant operations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Safely operate and monitor chemical process equipment and systems.
• Perform equipment startup, shutdown, and basic troubleshooting in accordance with established procedures.
• Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions, safety procedures, and PPE requirements.
• Handle, transfer, and process chemicals and raw materials safely.
• Monitor process parameters and identify abnormal or unsafe operating conditions.
• Record operating data, equipment conditions, process observations, and other required documentation.
• Perform routine equipment inspections, sampling, process checks, and housekeeping activities.
• Support corrosion monitoring, preventive maintenance, and equipment readiness activities.
• Assist engineering and technical personnel with process trials, equipment changes, and troubleshooting.
• Participate in the development and continuous improvement of operating and safety procedures.
• Assist with training and mentoring additional operators as operations expand.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of pilot plant operations.

Qualifications

Required

• High school diploma or GED.
• Minimum 2 years of relevant industrial operating experience in chemical manufacturing, refining, metals processing, mineral processing, electroplating, hydrometallurgy, or a similar process environment.
• Demonstrated experience operating industrial process or production equipment.
• Demonstrated experience safely handling hazardous chemicals in an industrial environment.
• Demonstrated experience working in operations requiring elevated levels of PPE and formal hazard controls.
• Demonstrated experience with lockout/tagout (LOTO), equipment isolation, and verification of safe equipment conditions prior to maintenance or process intervention.
• Demonstrated experience with work permitting systems, such as hot work, confined space entry, or other hazardous-work permits.
• Familiarity with OSHA requirements applicable to chemical or industrial operations, including hazard communication, control of hazardous energy, PPE, and related workplace safety practices.
• Demonstrated experience assisting with process troubleshooting activities.
• Ability to work safely and effectively both independently and as part of a team.

Preferred

• 3–5 years of chemical plant, refinery, or related process operating experience.
• Demonstrated experience with chemical process startup or pilot plant operations.
• Experience with electroplating, electrochemical processing, metals refining, or hydrometallurgical operations.
• Experience reading P&IDs or process flow diagrams.
• Experience working with corrosive, reactive, or otherwise hazardous chemicals requiring specialized PPE and operating controls.
• Familiarity with OSHA programs such as confined-space entry, respiratory protection, electrical safety and process safety practices, as applicable.
• Experience participating in job safety analyses, pre-job briefings, incident reporting, near-miss reporting, or similar safety programs.
• Experience training or mentoring operators or technicians.
• Experience working with lean methodologies and tools such as 5S and Kanban.
• Previous experience as a lead operator, senior operator, or senior technician.

Schedule

This is a full-time, day-shift position.