Process Engineer

Process Engineer – R&D and Pilot Operations (Contract-to-Hire)OverviewRushnu is commercializing an integrated carbon capture and green chemical production technology that converts CO₂ from industrial off-gas into chemicals used in water treatment and steel manufacturing. We are seeking a hands-on Process Engineer to lead benchtop and pilot-scale R&D for this process and then transition into a plant engineering role operating our first commercial demonstration unit at a host water resource recovery facility. This is a contract-to-hire (W-2) position with the potential to convert to full-time employment. Key ResponsibilitiesResearch and Development – Benchtop and Pilot Systems• Design, build, and operate benchtop and continuous pilot systems handling liquid, gas, solid, and multiphase streams.• Plan and execute experimental campaigns using Design of Experiments (DOE); analyze results and translate them into process improvements and scale-up criteria.• Develop and validate reactor, gas–liquid contacting, and separation unit operations for CO₂ capture and chemical production.• Own mechanical design and equipment specification for skids, piping, instrumentation, and pumps; produce and maintain PFDs and P&IDs.• Build mass and energy balances and process models to support scale-up, equipment sizing, and techno-economic analysis.• Support fabrication, factory and site acceptance testing, shakedown, and commissioning of pilot and demonstration hardware.Plant Engineering – Commercial Demonstration Unit• Serve as the on-site plant engineer for the commercial demonstration unit, owning day-to-day operation, monitoring, and performance optimization.• Program, configure, and maintain PLC- and SCADA-based process control and data acquisition systems.• Develop standard operating procedures, preventive maintenance plans, and operator training materials.• Track and report key performance indicators — conversion, product quality, energy intensity, and uptime — and lead root-cause analysis and corrective actions.• Support process safety and EH&S activities, including HAZOP/PHA reviews, lockout/tagout, and permit compliance.• Coordinate daily with host-site operations staff, equipment vendors, and contractors.QualificationsRequired Qualifications• B.S., M.S. or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.• Demonstrated experience carrying a process from bench and pilot scale through commissioning and sustained operation.• Strong mechanical design and equipment specification skills for chemical process systems; comfortable with hands-on assembly, plumbing, instrumentation, and troubleshooting.• Practical experience programming and maintaining PLC-based control systems and field instrumentation.• Working knowledge of process safety and EH&S practice in an operating industrial environment.• Based in the San Francisco Bay Area with the ability to work on-site daily and travel locally between the laboratory and host facilities. This role cannot be performed remotely.• Able to perform the physical requirements of laboratory and plant work, including standing for extended periods, climbing stairs and ladders, lifting up to 50 pounds, and wearing required personal protective equipment.Preferred Qualifications• 2+ years of industrial process engineering experience in process development, pilot plant operation, or operating-plant engineering.• Experience with catalytic reactor systems, gas–liquid absorption and scrubbing, or brine and chlor-alkali chemistry.• Experience with biogas, flue gas treatment, or municipal water and wastewater treatment operations.• Process simulation experience with Aspen Plus, Aspen HYSYS, or equivalent.• Experience leading small, multidisciplinary R&D or commissioning teams.• Prior experience in an early-stage company or working on-site at a customer or host facility.Location and Terms• Location: On-site in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. Work will be split between our laboratory in the East Bay and a host facility on the San Francisco Peninsula; reliable daily travel between the two sites is required.• Employment type: Contract-to-hire, W-2, full-time, exempt• Rushnu is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. Rushnu provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities; if you need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact us. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.