Lead Cryogenic Process Engineer
About The Position
Interlune is a Seattle-based space infrastructure and natural resources company developing the industrial backbone of the space economy. The Lead Cryogenic Process Engineer will be a senior leader on the engineering team, leading a cryogenic distillation project and collaborating with engineers and scientists to develop isotopic separation systems for Earth and space applications. The role is based full-time at the company headquarters in Seattle, Washington, or the Interlune Research Lab in Houston, Texas. As part of a small, early-stage team, the engineer is expected to be agile, willing to learn, and able to take on multiple roles as needed.
Requirements
- B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical subject area.
- At least 8 years of experience designing and developing experiments, systems, and methods for separating and purifying gas mixtures, such as cryogenic distillation, chemical absorption-regeneration loops, and membrane separation.
- Direct people and project management experience, including professional and technical mentorship of early-career and peer employees.
- Familiarity with cryogenic engineering equipment, including vacuum chambers, joint design, heat exchangers, vacuum pumps, and compressors.
- Hands-on experience setting up and managing laboratory facilities for cryogenic fluid experiments, including implementing safety controls.
- Practical experience writing successful government-funded research grant proposals.
- Hands-on experience building hardware, including integrated hardware/software systems.
- Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum to comply with U.S. Government export regulations.
Nice To Haves
- M.S. or Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering or a related technical subject area.
- Former Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator role on a government-funded research grant.
- Familiarity with common manufacturing methods, including machining, welding, and use of hand and power tools.
- Experience working on an in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) project extracting resources from regolith using chemical or thermal processes.
- Knowledge of and practical experience with sample-analysis methods such as mass spectrometry, laser spectroscopy, particle size analysis, and gas chromatography.
Responsibilities
- Lead development of a cryogenic distillation system, driving hardware from concept through design, analysis, prototyping, testing, and manufacturing.
- Manage and mentor engineers specializing in chemical processing and materials science.
- Take end-to-end ownership and management of projects, including building, testing, and implementing designed hardware.
- Lead design reviews as system and subsystem designs are established and refined.
- Use advanced instrumentation to identify and analyze the composition of gas mixtures.
- Develop robust plant process control schemes.
- Design and develop manufacturing and test capabilities supporting areas of responsibility.
- Ensure rigorous personnel safety protocols when operating and testing high-pressure and/or cryogenic systems.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits.
- Basic and supplemental life insurance.
- Short- and long-term disability benefits.
- Other benefits.
- Flexible paid time off.
- Paid company holidays.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
