Reaction Development Engineer (Senior and above) at Ammobia

Reaction Engineer (Senior and above)

About Ammobia

Ammobia is on a mission to revolutionize the ammonia industry. We are a seed-stage startup developing Haber Bosch 2.0 – a next-generation ammonia synthesis process enabling cost-effective, clean ammonia production. Until now, ammonia production has been a highly polluting, steady-state, high inertia process. We are developing new regimes of physics and plant design that require dynamic processes, especially for ammonia production from intermittent renewable energy sources. Clean ammonia will support ammonia’s growing role in our decarbonized world, tackling some of the most difficult to abate sectors including chemicals, fertilizers, and heavy-duty transportation. We are supported by leading climate tech organizations including Starlight Ventures, Collaborative Fund, Third Derivative, Forbes 30u30, and more.

Job Description

Ammobia is seeking a motivated and creative Reaction Engineer to develop and optimize our ammonia production process. You will be our lead reaction engineer scaling our catalytic reaction process at the bench and pilot scale. Your primary focus will be the reactor – process parameters, active materials, and architectures; you will interface directly with equipment, materials, and process engineers and contribute to technical development across the company. There is significant opportunity to grow your role alongside the company.

1. Lead bench and pilot scale catalytic reaction process development, directly performing at least one of experimental or model/simulation-based development.
2. Design and optimize processes and reactor systems at increasing scales, alongside process and equipment engineers.
3. Design, analyze, and optimize thermocatalytic experiments and processes.
4. Guide and mentor junior R&D chemical and materials engineers.
5. Characterize, specify, and select ammonia synthesis catalysts.
6. Develop intellectual property, including trade secrets and patents.

Who you are

You are a creative, data-driven problem solver who works from first principles. You enjoy fast-paced, creative, and collaborative work; you work with a bias towards action and overcommunication; and you thrive with high levels of autonomy and ownership.

Successful applicants will have most of the following:

1. 5+ years’ experience in a relevant industrial setting (10 preferred).
2. Demonstrated expertise and deep knowledge of reaction engineering, heterogeneous catalysis, thermodynamics, kinetics, heat and mass transport.
3. Demonstrated expertise in process development, experimental design, and optimization.
4. Demonstrated expertise in modeling of reaction processes (including kinetics, heat and mass transport) and validation with experimental data, e.g. with gPROMS, ChemKin, Python, MATLAB, or similar.
5. Demonstrated ability to drive development programs based on insights from models and experiment.
6. Demonstrated expertise in data analysis, especially for time-series data from dynamic processes, e.g. with Python, MATLAB, or similar.
7. Hands-on experience operating bench scale reactor equipment, working knowledge of bench scale gas handling/sensing instrumentation (mass flow controllers, pressure regulators, temperature sensors, pressure sensors).
8. Experience synthesizing, manufacturing, and/or procuring catalysts.
9. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
10. Experience and enthusiasm to mentor junior engineers.
11. Self-motivated, proactive, and able to work both independently and collaboratively.
12. Passion for sustainability and excitement about working at an early-stage start-up.

Nice-to-have

1. PhD or MS in chemical engineering or similar.
2. Hands-on experience designing and building bench-to-pilot scale reactor equipment, especially developing PFDs, P&IDs.
3. Demonstrated expertise in transient reaction or separation processes.
4. Experience in adsorbent separations, PSA, TSA or similar.
5. Experience in pilot scale chemical processing.
6. Experience in start-up environments.
7. Experience in ammonia synthesis, cracking, or separations.

The position is full-time and in-person in San Francisco, CA. Compensation will be commensurate with experience. Benefits including healthcare and 401k will be provided.

Who we are

We are a small and passionate team of scientists and engineers. We value teamwork, accountability, open communication, and rapid iteration. We emphasize career growth, mutual feedback, and a fun and exciting working environment. Check out ammobia.co/careers for our full values statement and ammobia.co/team to learn more about us.

Benefits include:

• Competitive equity grants.
• Healthcare, dental, vision, life insurance, 401k.
• Gym benefit.
• Regular team social events.
• Paid time off, including closure between Christmas and New Years.