Senior Process Technology Engineer

Sea Dragon Energy

$150K — $190K *
Energy & Utilities
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in chemical or mechanical engineering.
  • Minimum 10 years of experience in process engineering or technology in relevant industries.
  • Experience in pilot-plant operations involving high-pressure, high-temperature, or gas-to-liquids processes.
  • Proven track record leading capital projects valued up to $5 million.
  • Strong knowledge of process simulation tools and development of PFDs, P&IDs.

Responsibilities

  • Deliver technical support for the seawater-to-jet fuel pilot plant.
  • Troubleshoot process upsets and implement corrective actions.
  • Monitor process data and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Lead multidisciplinary capital projects from concept to commissioning.
  • Scout and evaluate emerging technologies for scale-up.
  • Assist in techno-economic analyses and risk evaluations.
  • Prepare technical reports and presentations for stakeholders.

Benefits

  • Hands-on technical leadership experience in a groundbreaking sector.
  • Opportunity to impact multi-million-dollar scale-up decisions.
  • Exposure to cutting-edge technologies in sustainable energy.
  • Collaborative environment with cross-functional teams.
  • Potential for career advancement as the technology scales.
Full Job Description
Senior Process Technology Engineer We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Process Technology Engineer to play a pivotal role in advancing our seawater-to-jet fuel pilot plant and preparing the technology for commercial scale-up. This is a hands-on technical leadership position focused on operational excellence, capital project execution, and technology evaluation in the emerging Power-to-Liquid / e-fuels sector. The ideal candidate will bring deep process engineering expertise, preferably in carbon capture, syngas chemistry, or synthetic fuel production and will thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment where pilot-scale innovation directly informs multi-million-dollar scale-up decisions. Key Responsibilities 1. Operational Technical Support for a Seawater-to-Jet Fuel Pilot Plant (Direct Ocean Capture) • Deliver process engineering support to ensure safe, reliable, and optimized operation of the pilot facility. • Troubleshoot process upsets, perform root-cause analysis, and implement corrective actions for key unit operations including CO₂ capture, hydrogen production/integration, syngas synthesis, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, and product upgrading. • Monitor process data, develop and maintain performance metrics, and drive continuous improvement initiatives to increase yield, reduce downtime, and improve energy efficiency. • Support HAZOPs, safety reviews, and management-of-change (MOC) processes for pilot-plant modifications.• Collaborate closely with operations, maintenance, and analytical teams to translate pilot data into actionable insights. 2. Leadership of CAPEX Projects (up to $5-100 million) • Lead multidisciplinary capital projects from concept through commissioning, including feasibility studies, front-end engineering design (FEED), detailed design, procurement, construction, and start-up. • Develop project scopes, cost estimates, schedules, and risk registers; ensure projects are delivered on time, on budget, and meet technical and safety requirements. • Manage external engineering firms, vendors, and contractors while maintaining strict cost and schedule control. • Conduct post-project evaluations and capture lessons learned to refine future scale-up strategies. 3. Identification and Vetting of Critical Technologies for Future Scale-Up • Scout, evaluate, and recommend emerging and commercially ready technologies in CO₂ capture/utilization, hydrogen integration, synthesis gas generation, synthetic fuel synthesis, and downstream refining/upgrading. • Assist in techno-economic analyses (TEA) modeling, technology readiness level (TRL) assessments, and risk evaluations to support go/no-go decisions for scale-up deployment. • Build and maintain technology roadmaps that align pilot learnings with commercial plant design basis. • Establish and manage relationships with technology providers, universities, and research organizations. • Prepare technical reports, white papers, and presentations for internal stakeholders and potential investors or partners. Required Qualifications • Bachelor's or Master's degree in chemical engineering or mechanical engineering (or equivalent). • Minimum 10 years of progressive process engineering or process technology experience in the chemical, petrochemical, refining, or energy industries. • Demonstrated experience in pilot-plant or demonstration-scale operations, preferably involving high-pressure, high-temperature, or gas-to-liquids processes. • Proven track record leading capital projects valued up to $5 million (or equivalent scope).• Strong working knowledge of process simulation tools (Aspen Plus/HYSYS, UniSim, or equivalent), process flow diagrams (PFDs), P&IDs, and heat & material balance development. • Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams. • Ability to travel occasionally to vendor sites, testing facilities, or future commercial locations (estimated 10-30%). Preferred Qualifications • Direct experience in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), CO₂ capture and utilization (CCU), Power-to-Liquid (PtL), Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, or related synthetic fuel / carbon-recycling technologies. • Background in hydrogen production, electrolysis integration, and/or gas purification systems. • Familiarity with relevant industry standards (API, ASME, NFPA) and process safety management (PSM). • Experience working in a startup or scale-up environment is highly desirable.

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