Principal Process Engineer
About the Company
Our client is a company on a mission to revolutionize the ammonia industry. This seed-stage startup is developing a next-generation ammonia synthesis process enabling cost-effective, clean ammonia production. Clean ammonia will support ammonia’s growing role in our decarbonized world, tackling some of the most difficult to abate sectors including chemicals, fertilizers, and heavy-duty transportation.
Job Description
We are seeking a highly experienced and creative Chemical Process Engineer to lead process design, development, and optimization for first-of-a-kind ammonia plants. You will start with a clean sheet design and execute through plant startup, commissioning, and operation with iteration to integrate materials and process learnings from coincident developments.
You will collaborate with a cross-disciplinary engineering team to define and model the pilot and commercial-scale processes. You will generate detailed mass and energy balances, equipment specifications, evaluate when to build or outsource, and execute your designs through to operation.
The ideal candidate will have 10+ years of industry experience in chemical process design, modeling, and engineering and have seen the full cycle of plant design from concept to construction to shakedown to operation. Design, develop, and optimize chemical processes through all design stages (conceptual to commissioning).
- Develop process flow diagrams, heat and mass balances, P&IDs, controls strategies, and process simulation models using industry-standard software tools (such as Aspen Plus, HYSYS, or gPROMS).
- Build engineering team to support pilot plant detailed design through to deployment, including internal hires, vendors, and external engineering groups
- Specify and source chemical plant components (including heat exchangers, condensers, valves, mass flow controllers) and design plant process with commercial availability in mind.
- Build high fidelity technoeconomic models and develop project cost estimates.
Who you are:
You are a systems-minded and detailed oriented chemical engineer with a drive to create new technologies and “get it done” in all stages of design. You enjoy fast paced, creative, and collaborative work; you work with a bias towards action and overcommunication, and you work with high levels of autonomy and ownership.
Successful candidates should have most of the following:
- 10+ years of experience in chemical process design and optimization, preferably in ammonia, specialty chemicals, petrochemicals or related industries.
- Deep knowledge of process simulation tools (such as Aspen, gPROMS, similar) and programming languages (such as Python or MATLAB).
- Demonstrated experience developing Basic Engineering Packages (BEPs) and/or FEED packages for projects in chemical, specialty chemical, or fuels processing.
- Demonstrated experience in all stages of chemical process design, from concept to design studies to commissioning to operation.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Deep understanding of process safety, including the ability to conduct hazard analyses, implement safety measures, and ensure compliance with relevant regulations.
Nice to have:
- Demonstrated expertise developing pilot or first-of-a-kind chemical plants for novel technologies, especially bringing FOAK technologies through FID and pilot operations
- Demonstrated expertise in dynamic modeling of chemical processes
- Subject matter expertise in thermochemical reactors, heat exchangers, compressors, gas-gas separations, or related.
About the team:
This is a small and passionate team of scientists and engineers that values teamwork, accountability, rigorous debate, and rapid iteration. The company emphasizes career growth, mutual feedback, and a fun and exciting working environment.
The position is full-time and in-person in San Francisco, CA. Compensation and job title will be commensurate with experience.
Benefits include:
- Healthcare, dental, vision, life insurance
- 401k
- Gym benefit
- Team bonding activities, so far including sailing in the Bay, waterfront happy hour, and bowling
- High quality espresso drinks and latte art training
- Generous time off, including closure between Christmas and New Years
Berkner Group has been retained to execute this search. If you were contacted by Berkner Group, please reply to the person who contacted you. If you are applying to a job posting, please email your resume and a brief introduction to Please include your name and the title for this position (“(Your name) - Principal Process Engineer - QWR6RX76”) in the subject line of your email. We look forward to hearing from you!