Sr. Process Development Engineer - Pyrolysis Test

Charmindustrial; Fort Lupton (CO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity ownership through stock options

100% employee healthcare premiums covered

Paid leave including parental leave

Annual professional development stipend

Employee recognition programs

Job summary

Charmindustrial, located in Fort Lupton, Colorado, is hiring a Senior Process Development Engineer to lead the development and scaling of biomass conversion processes. This position involves collaborating with R&D, Engineering, and Operations teams to resolve technical challenges and improve efficiency.

The ideal candidate should possess a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, with 7+ years of relevant experience. Charmindustrial offers equity ownership, comprehensive healthcare coverage, and opportunities for professional development.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in process development engineering.
• Experience in operating and developing pilot-scale systems.
• Strong hands-on troubleshooting skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of biomass conversion processes.
• Define test plans addressing critical uncertainties.
• Own investigation of process performance challenges.
• Develop and validate process models and energy balances.
• Lead communication of experimental results.
• Prepare process engineering documentation.
• Conduct process safety activities.
• Partner with various engineering teams.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to standards.
• Support operations with after-hours coverage.

Skills

Process development engineering

Scale-up engineering

Heat transfer

Process safety

Troubleshooting

Cross-functional project leadership

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or related field

Job description

About Charm

Our mission is to return the atmosphere to 280 ppm CO₂. We convert excess inedible biomass into carbon‑rich bio‑oil and inject it into underground storage for permanent carbon removal. At scale, we can use bio‑oil to make fossil‑free iron.

Our carbon removal efforts began in 2020 with initial purchases from customers like Stripe, Shopify and Microsoft. Since then we’ve scaled to thousands of tons of carbon removal, grown to over a hundred employees and established three locations in San Francisco, Colorado and Louisiana.

We're expanding our team of ambitious, creative and hands‑on problem solvers. We value psychological safety, collaboration and continuous learning. We take calculated risks and treat mistakes as opportunities to improve. If you’re excited about tackling big challenges, we encourage you to explore our company values.

Come help us reverse climate change. Gigatons or bust!

About the Role

We're looking for a Senior Process Development Engineer to join our Pyrolysis Test Engineering team. Reporting to the Director of Pyrolysis, you will lead the development and scale‑up of next‑generation biomass conversion processes from pilot testing through commercial deployment. You will define experimental strategy, drive resolution of complex scale‑up challenges, and provide technical leadership across R&D, Engineering and Operations teams.

This role requires deep process engineering expertise, strong technical judgment, and the ability to translate ambiguous experimental findings into robust, scalable industrial processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of next‑generation Charm pyrolyzers and biomass conversion processes to maximize bio‑oil yield, product quality, reliability and economic performance.
• Define test plans and experimental campaigns that address critical technical uncertainties and inform commercialization decisions.
• Own investigation and resolution of complex process performance, operability and scale‑up challenges across pilot and demonstration systems.
• Develop and validate process models, material and energy balances, and engineering analyses to guide process improvements and future facility design.
• Lead interpretation and communication of experimental results to technical and non‑technical stakeholders, including recommendations for strategic development priorities.
• Prepare and review process engineering documentation including Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs), Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), Process Control Narratives (PCNs), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and process equipment specifications.
• Lead or facilitate process safety activities including Hazard and Operability study (HAZOP), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Management of Change (MOC) reviews and commissioning/startup readiness reviews.
• Partner closely with Mechanical, Automation, Electrical, Manufacturing and Operations teams to ensure successful deployment and operation of new process technologies.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to the development of engineering standards, best practices and technical culture across the organization.
• Support our 24/7 operations through a rotating after‑hours coverage schedule, totaling approximately 2–3 weeks per year.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience in process development engineering, or scale‑up engineering, including significant experience operating and developing pilot‑scale systems.
• Demonstrated success scaling chemical, thermochemical, energy or industrial process technologies from pilot through commercial deployment.
• Deep understanding of heat transfer, reaction engineering, mass and energy balances, process controls, process safety and industrial operations.
• Strong hands‑on troubleshooting skills and the ability to diagnose complex process and equipment failures in ambiguous environments.
• Experience leading cross‑functional technical projects involving multiple engineering disciplines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to influence technical direction and align diverse stakeholders.
• Strong engineering judgment and ability to balance technical rigor, operational realities, schedule and cost.
• Excitement for scaling industrial technologies that can meaningfully impact climate change.

Desired Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• Experience with pyrolysis, gasification, biomass conversion, refining, petrochemicals, renewable fuels or other thermochemical processing technologies.
• Experience commissioning and operating industrial process systems at demonstration or commercial scale.
• Experience leading process hazard analyses and implementing process safety management programs.
• Experience managing external engineering partners, equipment vendors or contract manufacturers.

What We Offer

• Equity ownership through stock options
• 100% employee healthcare premiums covered
• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage with multiple plan options
• Employer‑funded HSA contributions for eligible HDHP plans
• Traditional and Roth 401(k) with a 50% match on contributions up to 6%
• Paid leave, including parental and medical leave
• PPE and workwear allowances
• Annual professional development stipend
• Employee recognition programs that celebrate impactful work and team contributions
• Opportunities for internal growth, career development and transition into climate from a range of industries and backgrounds

Visa Sponsorship Policy

Since we are a small startup, certain accommodations for visa sponsorship may not be within our capability. At this time, Charm Industrial is only sponsoring E3 and TN visas.

Our Commitment

Charm Industrial is an equal opportunity employer. We hire based on skills, experience and passion for our mission. Climate challenges require a wide range of perspectives and expertise, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We’re excited to grow our team with people who bring unique strengths and help us improve as a company.