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Senior/Principal Process Engineer

SAFFiRE Renewables is actively seeking an experienced and innovative process engineer with a strong background in enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation, and ethanol separation technologies. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Renewable Ventures, SAFFiRE (Sustainable Aviation Fuel From Renewable Ethanol) is dedicated to the large-scale commercialization of cellulosic ethanol, which can then be converted to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) using the Alcohol-to-Jet pathway. By transforming corn stover into ethanol, SAFFiRE's novel technology approach has the potential to drive aviation’s green transition and position the U.S. agriculture and ethanol industries at the forefront of SAF growth. With the possibility of achieving carbon-negative status through enhancements and carbon capture, SAFFiRE's journey begins with designing and constructing a pilot plant hosted by Conestoga Energy, along with a commercialization plan that seamlessly integrates with existing ethanol plants and infrastructure. This venture is supported by industry leaders such as Southwest Airlines and LanzaJet, as well as the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Lab. We are currently seeking a hands-on engineer to support engineering activities involved in piloting and further scaling of the technology. The ideal candidate will bring a high level of technical knowledge and experience, leading a broad range of technical and manufacturing activities while collaborating with engineering partners and cross-functional teams engaged in pilot plant operations.

Key Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in chemical, mechanical, industrial engineering, or a related field.

  • Minimum of 5 years of work experience in the chemical process industry – Operational experience at grain ethanol or similar production site is a plus.

  • Subject matter expertise and deep understanding in one or more of the following areas:

1. Fermentation, enzymatic saccharification, lignin utilization, and other biological process design and optimization for cellulosic biomass conversion technologies.
2. Chemical unit operations, including ethanol separation technologies (distillation, evaporation, molecular sieves, membrane separation), biomass handling and grinding processes, utilities, and related equipment.
3. Process modeling and techno-economic assessments for environmental impact and cost-effectiveness.
4. Process control, electrical systems, instrumentation, lab analytical techniques, process data management tools and analysis techniques.

  • Broad process engineering skills for scaling or operating chemical and mechanical processes.

  • Ability to work independently while collaborating across functions.

  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

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Key Responsibilities:

  • Serve as a technical expert and hands-on engineer from design to construction, through commissioning, startup, and day-to-day operation of the pilot plant in Liberal, KS.

  • Assist during baseline runs at a pilot scale, collaborating with all plant personnel across functions.

  • Lead cross-functional teams to develop and document daily work plans, workflow assignments, and results.

  • Drive continuous process improvement activities to optimize process performance and equipment design through experiments and trials.

  • Make data-driven decisions to identify process simplification opportunities, perform techno-economic evaluations, and develop alternate process concepts for achieving cost efficiency at scale.

  • Collaborate with engineering partners to prepare engineering specifications and design packages, including conceptual and detailed designs, mass and energy balances, PFDs, P&IDs, and HAZOPs, for a first-of-a-kind demonstration and/or commercial plant.


Soft Skills:

  • Leadership and Project Management: Develop and document work plans, assignments, and results for the day.

  • Collaboration and Communication: Work effectively with cross-functional pilot plant teams to gather requirements and resolve issues. Partner with external engineering firms for preparing engineering design packages for further scale-up.

  • Safety and Compliance: Adhere to safety guidelines and protocols for safe operations and regulatory compliance.

  • Quality Assurance: Implement measures to maintain product standards.

  • Continuous Learning and Adaptability: Stay updated on industry trends, technological advancements, and best practices.


Location:

  • The role is located at the field site for the pilot plant in Liberal, KS.


Contact Info:
If interested in learning more about this opportunity, please reach out to John Gardea at John.Gardea@wnco.com and Meredith Oliver at Meredith.Oliver@wnco.com

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