Process Engineer, Downstream Purification and Chemical Synthesis

Position Purpose

Owns everything after the fermenter, including broth clarification, purification, the catalytic conversion step and final product purification to specification.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the downstream process description covering separation, filtration, ion exchange or chromatography, crystallization, drying and solvent recovery.
• Own the catalytic conversion step, including fixed bed reactor operation, catalyst loading and unloading, activity monitoring and regeneration or replacement planning.
• Own distillation and purification operations and the product specification control strategy.
• Translate the process into operating procedures, control narratives and operator training content.
• Track yield, recovery, purity and solvent losses at each step and drive improvement.
• Manage polymerization risk, including inhibitor dosing, oxygen requirement and temperature limits, alongside the process safety engineer.
• Support commissioning of downstream and reaction systems, including catalyst first load and performance verification.
• Interface with the technology partner and catalyst supplier on performance questions.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in chemical engineering or organic chemistry with process experience.
• Five or more years in downstream purification or organic chemical synthesis at production scale.
• Direct experience with separation, crystallization or distillation unit operations.
• Solvent handling and recovery experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Fixed bed catalytic reactor operating experience.
• Reactive monomer experience.
• Chromatography or ion exchange purification at scale.