{"schemaVersion":"jobsearcher.job.v1","id":"cdaed48603be0315a3e9b78f","url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/cdaed48603be0315a3e9b78f","canonicalUrl":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/cdaed48603be0315a3e9b78f","title":"Process Engineer","description":"Process Engineer – R&D and Pilot Operations (Contract-to-Hire)\nOverview\nRushnu 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.\nKey Responsibilities\nResearch and Development – Benchtop and Pilot Systems\nDesign, build, and operate benchtop and continuous pilot systems handling liquid, gas, solid, and multiphase streams.\nPlan and execute experimental campaigns using Design of Experiments (DOE); analyze results and translate them into process improvements and scale-up criteria.\nDevelop and validate reactor, gas–liquid contacting, and separation unit operations for CO₂ capture and chemical production.\nOwn mechanical design and equipment specification for skids, piping, instrumentation, and pumps; produce and maintain PFDs and P&IDs.\nBuild mass and energy balances and process models to support scale-up, equipment sizing, and techno-economic analysis.\nSupport fabrication, factory and site acceptance testing, shakedown, and commissioning of pilot and demonstration hardware.\nPlant Engineering – Commercial Demonstration Unit\nServe as the on-site plant engineer for the commercial demonstration unit, owning day-to-day operation, monitoring, and performance optimization.\nProgram, configure, and maintain PLC- and SCADA-based process control and data acquisition systems.\nDevelop standard operating procedures, preventive maintenance plans, and operator training materials.\nTrack and report key performance indicators — conversion, product quality, energy intensity, and uptime — and lead root-cause analysis and corrective actions.\nSupport process safety and EH&S activities, including HAZOP/PHA reviews, lockout/tagout, and permit compliance.\nCoordinate daily with host-site operations staff, equipment vendors, and contractors.\nQualifications\nRequired Qualifications\nB.S., M.S. or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.\nDemonstrated experience carrying a process from bench and pilot scale through commissioning and sustained operation.\nStrong mechanical design and equipment specification skills for chemical process systems; comfortable with hands-on assembly, plumbing, instrumentation, and troubleshooting.\nPractical experience programming and maintaining PLC-based control systems and field instrumentation.\nWorking knowledge of process safety and EH&S practice in an operating industrial environment.\nBased 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.\nAble 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.\nPreferred Qualifications\n2+ years of industrial process engineering experience in process development, pilot plant operation, or operating-plant engineering.\nExperience with catalytic reactor systems, gas–liquid absorption and scrubbing, or brine and chlor-alkali chemistry.\nExperience with biogas, flue gas treatment, or municipal water and wastewater treatment operations.\nProcess simulation experience with Aspen Plus, Aspen HYSYS, or equivalent.\nExperience leading small, multidisciplinary R&D or commissioning teams.\nPrior experience in an early-stage company or working on-site at a customer or host facility.\nLocation and Terms\nLocation: 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.\nEmployment type: Contract-to-hire, W-2, full-time, exempt\nRushnu 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.\nPay: $88,716.11 - $106,840.91 per year\nWork Location: In person","company":"Rushnu","rawCompany":"rushnu","city":"Alameda","state":"CA","isRemote":false,"isActive":false,"createdAt":"2026-08-06T15:07:44.483Z","occupations":[{"code":"17-2041.00","title":"Chemical Engineers","slug":"chemical-engineers"},{"code":"17-2199.00","title":"Engineers, All Other","slug":"engineers-all-other"},{"code":"17-2141.00","title":"Mechanical Engineers","slug":"mechanical-engineers"}],"industries":[{"code":"541715","title":"Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)","slug":"research-and-development-in-the-physical-engineering-and-life-sciences-except-nanotechnology-and-biotechnology"},{"code":"541330","title":"Engineering Services","slug":"engineering-services"},{"code":"325199","title":"All Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing","slug":"all-other-basic-organic-chemical-manufacturing"}],"jobPosting":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"JobPosting","title":"Process Engineer","description":"Process Engineer – R&D and Pilot Operations (Contract-to-Hire)\nOverview\nRushnu 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.\nKey Responsibilities\nResearch and Development – Benchtop and Pilot Systems\nDesign, build, and operate benchtop and continuous pilot systems handling liquid, gas, solid, and multiphase streams.\nPlan and execute experimental campaigns using Design of Experiments (DOE); analyze results and translate them into process improvements and scale-up criteria.\nDevelop and validate reactor, gas–liquid contacting, and separation unit operations for CO₂ capture and chemical production.\nOwn mechanical design and equipment specification for skids, piping, instrumentation, and pumps; produce and maintain PFDs and P&IDs.\nBuild mass and energy balances and process models to support scale-up, equipment sizing, and techno-economic analysis.\nSupport fabrication, factory and site acceptance testing, shakedown, and commissioning of pilot and demonstration hardware.\nPlant Engineering – Commercial Demonstration Unit\nServe as the on-site plant engineer for the commercial demonstration unit, owning day-to-day operation, monitoring, and performance optimization.\nProgram, configure, and maintain PLC- and SCADA-based process control and data acquisition systems.\nDevelop standard operating procedures, preventive maintenance plans, and operator training materials.\nTrack and report key performance indicators — conversion, product quality, energy intensity, and uptime — and lead root-cause analysis and corrective actions.\nSupport process safety and EH&S activities, including HAZOP/PHA reviews, lockout/tagout, and permit compliance.\nCoordinate daily with host-site operations staff, equipment vendors, and contractors.\nQualifications\nRequired Qualifications\nB.S., M.S. or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.\nDemonstrated experience carrying a process from bench and pilot scale through commissioning and sustained operation.\nStrong mechanical design and equipment specification skills for chemical process systems; comfortable with hands-on assembly, plumbing, instrumentation, and troubleshooting.\nPractical experience programming and maintaining PLC-based control systems and field instrumentation.\nWorking knowledge of process safety and EH&S practice in an operating industrial environment.\nBased 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.\nAble 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.\nPreferred Qualifications\n2+ years of industrial process engineering experience in process development, pilot plant operation, or operating-plant engineering.\nExperience with catalytic reactor systems, gas–liquid absorption and scrubbing, or brine and chlor-alkali chemistry.\nExperience with biogas, flue gas treatment, or municipal water and wastewater treatment operations.\nProcess simulation experience with Aspen Plus, Aspen HYSYS, or equivalent.\nExperience leading small, multidisciplinary R&D or commissioning teams.\nPrior experience in an early-stage company or working on-site at a customer or host facility.\nLocation and Terms\nLocation: 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.\nEmployment type: Contract-to-hire, W-2, full-time, exempt\nRushnu 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.\nPay: $88,716.11 - $106,840.91 per year\nWork Location: In person","datePosted":"2026-08-06T15:07:44.483Z","dateModified":"2026-08-06T15:07:44.483Z","hiringOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Rushnu","sameAs":"https://jobsearcher.com"},"jobLocation":{"@type":"Place","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Alameda","addressRegion":"CA","addressCountry":"US"}},"identifier":{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"JobSearcher","value":"cdaed48603be0315a3e9b78f"},"url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/cdaed48603be0315a3e9b78f"}}