Senior Manager, Membrane Product Development & Production

Aquatech; Albany (OR); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Company-paid holidays

401K plan

Job summary

Aquatech in Albany, Oregon, seeks a Senior Manager of Product Development and Membrane Production. You will lead FO membrane development and production, test new applications, and provide engineering support for sales and pilots.

The role prioritizes membrane technologies (FO, NF, SWRO, OARO) with high emphasis on scale-up, quality, and collaboration with manufacturing partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering is required.
• Advanced degree preferred; a P.E. license may substitute for higher degrees.
• Experience with RO/FO membranes and membrane technologies required.

Responsibilities

• Lead product development and production scale-up of FO membranes.
• Oversee testing, engineering support, and field pilot activities.
• Support sales opportunities with technical evaluation and proposals.
• Manage IP development and documentation for membrane platforms.
• Coordinate with partner manufacturers for element rolling and production.

Skills

Membrane production

FO membranes

OARO membranes

Engineering leadership

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering

Master's degree or PhD preferred

Professional Engineer (P.E.) license acceptable alternative

Job description

At Aquatech, we tackle the challenges of water scarcity and complexity by leveraging technology, expertise, and financing to deliver comprehensive solutions that reduce carbon and recycled water footprint. As a leading global provider of water and process technology solutions, we help the world's most recognized companies achieve their sustainability and operational goals by implementing innovative approaches for water reuse, desalination, minimal and zero liquid discharge, and critical minerals recovery. Our work catalyzes the transition toward a more sustainable future and showcases our commitment to addressing water's role in climate adaptation. Learn more at www.aquatech.com.

Aquatech immediately needs a full-time Senior Manager of Product Development and Membrane Production to work in our Albany, Oregon office. The hours of this position are Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Job Summary

This role is responsible for leading product development, membrane production, application testing, and engineering support for advanced flat-sheet membrane technologies, including Forward Osmosis (FO), nanofiltration (NF), seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO), and osmotically assisted reverse osmosis (OARO) membranes with low salt rejection characteristics.

Job Description

Forward Osmosis Membrane Development and Production

• Oversee production of Forward Osmosis (FO) membranes, ensuring manufacturing consistency, quality, and alignment with product performance requirements.
• Lead the design, development, and production scale-up of FO membrane modules.
• Coordinate and oversee element rolling activities at partner manufacturing facilities.
• Oversee testing of FO processes and applications to validate performance, reliability, and suitability for target use cases.
• Support the sizing, design, and engineering of FO systems for commercial and pilot-scale applications.
  
  

Sales and Applications Support

• Provide technical and engineering support to the sales team for customer opportunities, proposals, and application evaluations.
• Evaluate the technical feasibility of new applications, including process requirements, membrane suitability, and expected operating performance.
• Assess pretreatment needs and upstream process steps required prior to membrane treatment.
  
  

Engineering Management

• Provide technical direction, consultation, and support to engineering staff on membrane system design, testing, and implementation.
• Monitor project progress, identify technical risks, and support timely execution of engineering deliverables.
• Additional duties as assigned.
  
  

Osmotically Assisted Reverse Osmosis

• Oversee spiral-wound element production activities for OARO membrane products and related applications.
• Manage testing and quality control procedures to ensure product consistency and application readiness.
  
  

Application Testing and Field Support

• Oversee laboratory testing of new FO and OARO applications, including performance validation and process optimization.
• Lead initial pilot testing of new FO applications, including membrane crystallizer concepts and other emerging treatment processes.
• Support field pilot testing of RecovOAR and FO systems, including troubleshooting, data review, and recommendations for improvement.
  
  

Intellectual Property Support

• Support internal intellectual property development for in-house technology platforms and product applications.
• Serve as lead technical author for patent disclosures and related intellectual property documentation.
• Prepare technical responses to patent office actions and support outside counsel as needed.
  
  

Skills

• Strong understanding of thermodynamics and heat/mass transfer principles.
• Ability to apply engineering fundamentals to product design, development, and manufacturing processes.
• Knowledge of membrane separation technologies, water treatment systems, or related process technologies.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and technical communication skills.
  
  

Benefits

Aquatech offers a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off, company-paid holidays, and a 401K plan (all benefits are based on eligibility).

Physical Job Demands

Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, limited walking, and standing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in Mechanical Engineering or Chemical Engineering;
• Master's degree (M.S.) or PhD preferred, can substitute with a Professional Engineer (P.E.) license.
• Experience with reverse osmosis (RO), forward osmosis (FO), membrane technologies, or ion-exchange systems.
• Product manufacturing experience required.
• Must be able to work 100% on-site in Albany, Oregon.