Demo Plant Operator

Job Description

Job Description

About Travertine

Travertine is a Climate Tech start-up based in Boulder, CO, that is rapidly scaling a technology for low-waste, carbon-negative production of critical elements, focusing on phosphoric acid production for our go-to-market application. Our electrochemical process converts phosphate rock into phosphoric acid for EV batteries and fertilizers, while simultaneously converting carbon dioxide captured from the air into a mineral addition to cement. Travertine was spun out of UC Berkeley in 2022 to scale this process to gigatons of permanent CDR while massively reducing industrial waste.

Since its founding, Travertine has raised over $25M in capital, including over $5M in US Federal and State government grants. As one of the first companies to receive pre-purchases of CDR from the new Stripe-led $1B Frontier fund, and as founding members of the Carbon Removal Alliance, we are committed to industrial decarbonization at scale. We were named C&EN 10 startups to watch in 2022, a Bloomberg NEF Pioneer in 2023, and RMI Third Derivative 1st Gigaton Captured program participants in 2024. Today we are focused on scaling up commercial deployments of our technology, starting with a Demonstration Plant that is being installed in Ontario, NY. We believe in developing practical approaches to solving the climate crisis.

The Role

Travertine is seeking a highly motivated and safety-conscious Operator to be part of the team operating our first-of-a-kind Demonstration Plant. This role involves close collaboration with other operators, engineers, and the R&D team to maintain steady operation while acquiring the critical data needed to verify carbon dioxide removal and inform the commercial design. Tasks will include equipment operation and maintenance, solution preparation, sample collection, sample analysis, waste neutralization and disposal, and other tasks as needed. Ability to troubleshoot process equipment and process issues is critical for this role. If you want to be part of a high-performing team starting up and operating a first-of-a-kind sustainable chemical process, this is the role for you.

• Operate a wide range of chemical processing equipment, including but not limited to reactors, pumps, heat exchangers, and filtration systems.
• Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs), batch records, and safety protocols to conduct chemical processes.
• Monitor process variables and make adjustments to ensure safe and optimal operation.
• Collect samples, perform chemical analyses, record accurate and detailed operational data and observations during runs.
• Perform routine equipment maintenance, cleaning, and calibrations.
• Collaborate with engineers, chemists, and other technical staff to execute test plans and experiments.
• Assist in the setup and teardown of process equipment and systems for various campaigns.
• Troubleshoot equipment and process issues and report findings to engineering staff.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe working environment in compliance with company policies and regulatory standards.
• Participate in safety audits, process hazard analyses, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Associate's degree in Process Technology, Chemical Technology, Industrial Technology, Chemistry, Materials Science, or related field
• 0-2 years’ experience as a technician building, maintaining, and operating chemical equipment
• Experience with wet chemistry laboratory work and sample analysis
• Strong mechanical aptitude and familiarity with chemical processing equipment.
• Basic understanding of process control systems and instrumentation.
• Ability to interpret technical documents such as P&IDs, batch sheets, and MSDSs.
• Excellent attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Flexibility to work shifts, nights, weekends, or extended hours as needed. Note the plant will operate 24/7.

• Competitive pay
• Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance
• 401k with 100% match up to 3% of salary
• Flexible time off policy

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.