Staff Process Engineer (Process & Material Handling)

As a Staff Process Engineer on Sila’s Technology team, you will be responsible for designing, commissioning and start-up of critical steps in Sila’s first and future industrial scale plants. You’ll also start working on the next generation technology after Sila’s first plant is running.

The ideal team member will have experience working efficiently in high pressure situations, such as plant startups, new grade trials, or turnarounds, to deliver product on-spec. You bring applicable experiences of having seen different manufacturing plant technologies, having worked with bulk solids in manufacturing, or have expert level competency in at least one chemical technology so you know what process engineering excellence looks like.

You bring a collaborative and bias for action energy to the team. You have seamlessly worked closely with or on a chemical company’s R&D and Technology teams as well as with the Manufacturing Engineering, Operations and Maintenance teams. Most importantly, you are comfortable working on new problems everyday, have an extreme-ownership mentality, and have a track record of pushing yourself and your team to be better every single day.

Responsibilities and Duties

Commission Sila’s manufacturing plant to produce next-generation battery materials

Be the Process Eng for a critical unit or set of units in the manufacturing process

Collaborate with all engineering disciplines, operations and others required for a chemical plant

Expertly balance day-to-day priorities with long term deliverables

Work seamlessly with internal teams and 3rd party vendors to drive technical deliverables

Play a critical role in the long term vision and execution of production line improvements

Drive design and control scheme modifications for large scale first-of-a-kind plant during startup

Develop HMBs, P&IDs and other FEED deliverables starting at concept for the next gen plant

Drive ideas through R&D, Material Dev, and Pilot Test Teams for at-scale implementation

Influence others across the org and drive technical solutions

Knowledge and Skill Requirements

B.S. or M.S. in Chemical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering

Minimum of 5 years of experience directly owning a high volume production line or in a design-to-commissioning role as a Production or Process Design Engineer for a plant or other comparable manufacturing (speciality materials, food, chemicals, etc.)

Ability to visualize in great detail and have a first-principles understanding of an operating plant

Exposure to process design that may range from minor retrofits to new plant scope

Knowledge of basic controls schemes and familiarity with advanced control strategies

Experience with daily and long-term process optimization and production constraints

Risk management, management of change and HAZOP experience

Years of experience creating, reading and edited PFDs, P&IDs, and Operating Procedures

Ability to determine and solve for key parameters for process scale-up to commercial volumes

Track record of relentlessly challenging accepted practices and inefficiencies

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

Must be able to remain in a stationary position to operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a laptop, copier/printer machine, etc.

Climb stairs and walk on uneven ground

Wear personal protective equipment including, but not limited to, a hard hat, lab coat or coveralls, gloves, safety glasses, and safety shoes

Pass a respirator fit test and be able to wear respiratory protection on a periodic basis

Move long distances and occasionally kneel or bend

Up to 75% travel for work at new production site and 3rd party design offices during startup

Up to 10% travel during non-startup time periods

The starting base pay for this role is between $151,000 and $191,000 at the time of posting. The actual base pay depends on many factors, such as education, experience, and skills. Base pay is only one part of Sila’s competitive Total Rewards package that can include benefits, perks, equity.  The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future.

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