Overview

The Energy and Environment Directorate delivers science and technology solutions for the nation's biggest energy and environmental challenges. Our more than 1,700 staff support the Department of Energy (DOE), delivering on key DOE mission areas including: modernizing our nation's power grid to maintain a reliable, affordable, secure, and resilient electricity delivery infrastructure; research, development, validation, and effective utilization of renewable energy and efficiency technologies that improve the affordability, reliability, resiliency, and security of the American energy system; and resolving complex issues in nuclear science, energy, and environmental management.

The Energy Processes and Materials Division, part of the Energy and Environment Directorate, creates and delivers real world solutions that support the Department of Energy's goals for national energy security. We deliver new technologies that connect fundamental science to applications in areas such as energy storage, advanced materials manufacturing, applied catalysis, advanced separations, biomass conversions, carbon capture and utilization, and hydrogen production and storage. We employ a systems perspective that includes discovery, technology development, and scale-up as well as economic, regulatory, and market acceptance issues necessary for successful technology commercialization.

Due to the nature of this work, this position is onsite in Richland, WA.

Responsibilities

Designs, develops, and operates processes or unit operations to create a diverse range of products. Evaluates and manipulates the chemical properties of various substances used in the fabrication of new products. Designs, models evaluates, and implements chemical processes, instrumentation, and equipment to ensure effectiveness in engineering and design. Performs trials, tests, and/or experiments to support engineering, production, and/or R&D activities. Applies the principles of chemistry, nuclear science, biology, physics, material science, math, and engineering to solve problems that involve the production, use or conversion of chemicals, materials, and energy. Uses the principles of biology and the tools of engineering to mimic biological systems to create products or to modify and control biological systems so that they can replace, augment, sustain, or control chemical and mechanical processes.

• Conduct research and development in hydrothermal liquefaction and related hydrothermal processes, including hydrothermal carbonization, wet air oxidation, and supercritical water oxidation.
• Design, operate, modify, and troubleshoot continuous-flow, high-pressure, high-temperature systems processing slurries and solids-containing feedstocks.
• Investigate fouling, plugging, solids deposition, particle settling, and flow-instability mechanisms in feed systems, reactors, heat exchangers, and pressure-control components.
• Apply rheology, slurry transport, multiphase flow, heat transfer, and reaction engineering principles to understand process behavior and define reliable operating windows.
• Develop and evaluate fouling-mitigation strategies involving feed conditioning, pumping and mixing, equipment geometry, operating conditions, materials, and cleaning or flushing approaches.
• Design experiments and diagnostics to measure pressure drop, viscosity, particle behavior, solids transport, deposition rates, and other indicators of process performance.
• Characterize feedstocks, products, and deposited materials to connect physical and chemical properties with fouling and system operability.
• Develop engineering models and correlations that support process optimization, equipment design, and scale-up from laboratory to pilot systems.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams on system design, process integration, techno-economic analysis, and pilot-scale demonstrations.
• Communicate results through sponsor deliverables, technical reports, conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications, and proposal development.
• Maintain a strong commitment to safe operation of high-pressure systems and complex laboratory equipment.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS/BA and 2 years of relevant experience -OR-
• MS/MA -OR-
• PhD

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, chemistry, materials science, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience designing, operating, or troubleshooting continuous-flow or recirculating process systems; experience limited primarily to batch reactors is not sufficient.
• Expertise in one or more of the following: rheology, slurry transport, multiphase flow, fouling, plugging, solids deposition, particle transport, or flow assurance.
• Experience with hydrothermal liquefaction, hydrothermal carbonization, wet air oxidation, supercritical water oxidation, or another high-pressure continuous-flow process.
• Experience processing high-solids, heterogeneous, viscous, or non-Newtonian feedstocks.
• Familiarity with pumps, slurry feeders, mixers, heat exchangers, pressure-control devices, instrumentation, and data-acquisition systems used in high-pressure flow equipment.
• Ability to connect feedstock properties, reaction chemistry, fluid mechanics, and equipment design to system operability and reliability.
• Experience characterizing rheology, particle size, solids content, phase behavior, deposits, or related physical properties.
• Experience developing mechanistic models, engineering correlations, or computational models for pressure drop, heat transfer, slurry flow, or deposition is desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to independently plan and execute experimental research while working effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong technical writing and communication skills, with a record of publications, presentations, sponsor deliverables, or proposal contributions.
• Experience working with pilot-scale equipment, federal sponsors, industry partners, or national laboratory collaborations is desirable.

Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment

Not Applicable

Testing Designated Position

This is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP).

Rockstar Rewards

Employees and their families are offered medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, robust telehealth care options, several mental health benefits, free wellness coaching, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, basic life insurance, disability insurance*, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, tuition assistance, relocation, backup childcare, legal benefits, supplemental parental bonding leave, surrogacy and adoption assistance, and fertility support. Employees are automatically enrolled in our company-funded pension plan* and may enroll in our 401 (k) savings plan with company match*. Employees may accrue up to 120 vacation hours per year and may receive ten paid holidays per year.

* Research Associates excluded.

**All benefits are dependent upon eligibility.

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Notice to Applicants

PNNL lists the full pay range for the position in the job posting. Starting pay is calculated from the minimum of the pay range and actual placement in the range is determined based on an individual's relevant job-related skills, qualifications, and experience. This approach is applicable to all positions, with the exception of positions governed by collective bargaining agreements and certain limited-term positions which have specific pay rules.

As part of our commitment to fair compensation practices, we do not ask for or consider current or past salaries in making compensation offers at hire. Instead, our compensation offers are determined by the specific requirements of the position, prevailing market trends, applicable collective bargaining agreements, pay equity for the position type, and individual qualifications and skills relevant to the performance of the position.

Minimum Salary

USD $100,100.00/Yr.
Maximum Salary

USD $150,200.00/Yr.