Senior Process Engineer

8 Rivers; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

8 Rivers in Durham, NC is seeking a Senior Process Engineer to design, optimize and commercialize energy technologies for decarbonization and deployment at scale.

You will build Aspen Plus models, refine process cycles, and translate technical data into business implications, partnering with BD to identify project opportunities and client needs while maintaining startup agility.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Strong proficiency in steady-state and dynamic process modeling using Aspen Plus/HYSYS.
• Deep understanding of advanced thermodynamic cycles and mass/energy balances.
• 3+ years in industries like power, syngas, hydrogen/ammonia, or clean energy tech.
• Experience creating BEP and PFDs with HMB and equipment specs.
• Experience scaling complex processes to commercial deployment.
• Ability to translate technical data into business insights.

Responsibilities

• Build simulation models to evaluate system performance.
• Optimize thermodynamic cycles for lowest cost.
• Scale designs to full infrastructure deployment.
• Bridge technical concepts to market-ready solutions.
• Evaluate market viability with business development teams.
• Translate data into financial metrics; conduct TEAs.
• Draft documentation to protect IP.

Skills

Thermodynamics

Mass and energy balances

Cross-functional communication

Startup agility

Technical storytelling

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Chemical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Aspen Plus

Aspen HYSYS

Process simulation software

Job description

Company

8 Rivers is a Durham, NC firm focused on the invention, development, and commercialization of sustainable, infrastructure‑scale solutions to global problems through impactful technologies. The company maintains the agility, creativity, and fast‑paced environment of a start‑up, while partnering with large, industry‑leading companies to develop and deploy those technologies. Our process enables us to innovate in industrial fields that are lacking in creative disruption. 8 Rivers has demonstrated expertise in generating and commercializing large‑scale, meaningful solutions to some of the most challenging problems facing the world today and across a variety of industries in the clean energy, carbon capture, and clean fuels sectors.

The company innovates widely in adjacent markets in the clean energy technology space. Some of our marquee technologies include the Allam‑Fetvedt Cycle – a zero‑emission power production system that enables low‑cost power production with inherent carbon capture, 8RH2 – our innovative clean hydrogen technology utilizing CO2 convective reforming to achieve > 99% carbon capture.

Opportunity

8 Rivers is seeking a Senior Process Engineer to design, optimize and commercialize a portfolio of innovative energy technologies and project development opportunities. This role is ideal for an entrepreneurial engineer who is excited to work at the intersection of technology development, commercialization, and sustainability, and who wants to contribute to the deployment of transformative energy solutions.

This role involves building and refining process models to support high‑impact decisions and advance the company’s and client’s growth, commercialization, and decarbonization objectives.

This role is ideal for entrepreneurial engineers with technology incubation and commercialization background, or technical candidates with desire to engage in business development activities.

Responsibilities

Process Modeling & Optimization

• Build simulation models using software like Aspen Plus to evaluate system performance.
• Optimize process thermodynamic cycles to achieve lowest levelized cost.
• Conduct mass and energy balances to validate performance across various operating conditions.
• Scale up designs to full infrastructure‑scale deployment.

Technology Commercialization & Strategy

• Advance commercialization efforts by bridging the gap between technical concepts and market‑ready infrastructure solutions.
• Evaluate market viability of new clean energy technologies alongside business development teams.
• Inform capital decisions by translating complex technical process data into clear financial metrics.
• Conduct techno‑economic assessments to compare novel system costs against traditional energy baselines.
• Partner with business development to evaluate market viability, identify project opportunities, and engage prospective clients.
• De‑risk technology portfolios by identifying critical technical bottlenecks prior to commercial rollout.
• Draft technical documentation including white papers, patents, and specifications to protect intellectual property.

Project Development & Engineering

• Partner with industry leaders and global vendors to seamlessly integrate proprietary 8 Rivers systems.
• Develop engineering packages including Basic Engineering Package (BEP) and Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs)
• Support client engagement by tailoring core technologies to unique customer site needs.
• Maintain startup agility by rapidly pivoting designs based on commercial feedback.

Required Qualifications

• Engineering degree: Bachelor’s degree or higher in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• Process simulation expertise: Strong proficiency building and refining steady‑state and dynamic models in Aspen Plus, Aspen Hysys, or similar software.
• Thermodynamic proficiency: Deep understanding of advanced thermodynamic cycles, heat integration, and mass/energy balances.
• Core chemical process knowledge: minimum of 3 years working in industries such as power production from fossil fuels, syngas generation/processing/ cleanup, hydrogen /ammonia, and/or with exposure to point source capture, and/or clean energy technologies
• Design package creation: Experience developing Basic Engineering Packages (BEP) and Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs), Heat and Material Balance (HMB) and equipment specifications.
• Scale‑up experience: Experience moving complex industrial chemical processes from conceptual or pilot scale to commercial deployment.
• Cross‑functional communication: Ability to translate highly technical process data into clear, actionable business insights for non‑technical stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Commercialization background: Demonstrated experience working directly with business development teams to evaluate market viability and pitch technologies.
• Techno‑economic modeling: Experience conducting techno-economic assessments (TEAs) and capital cost estimation for novel energy technologies.
• Advanced power cycle experience: Specific familiarity with the Allam‑Fetvedt Cycle, supercritical CO2 (sCO₂) systems, or advanced hydrogen production.
• Startup agility: Background working in fast‑paced, entrepreneurial environments or technology incubators.
• Intellectual property involvement: Experience collaborating on patent applications, drafting technical white papers, or securing technology IP.