Pilot Plant Operator

Ayrton Energy•Makakilo, HI

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Ayrton Energy's mission is to propel the global shift towards sustainable energy with the broad deployment of our cutting-edge hydrogen storage technology, reshaping hydrogen distribution to mirror the safety, simplicity, and efficiency of traditional fuels such as diesel or gasoline. As a part of this, Ayrton is looking to hire a hands-on Pilot Plant Operator to support process development and scale-up work at our Hawaii-based pilot facility for a 6–9 month contract. You will love this job if: You enjoy variety over routine — running experimental and semi-continuous processes rather than a fixed, large-scale operation You're comfortable troubleshooting on the fly and adjusting to process changes as engineering and R&D teams iterate You like solving difficult problems You like working closely with process engineers and scientists, not just following a fixed SOP You're open to a defined-term contract and relocating to Hawaii for the assignment You take pride in careful documentation and disciplined safety practices, even in a fast-moving, experimental environment

Requirements

5+ years of experience as a process/plant/chemical operator, ideally including pilot plant, lab-scale, or R&D production environments
Comfort working in a smaller, less routine, more experimental setting compared to a full production plant
Comfort performing a variety of activities from operating and troubleshooting equipment to maintaining equipment to running lab analysis
Working knowledge of basic process equipment (pumps, compressors, valves etc.) , instrumentation and control (manual and/or DCS/PLC-based systems)
Ability to troubleshoot process issues using structured approaches eg. 5 whys
Strong documentation habits — comfortable logging data accurately and following/updating SOPs
Ability to work independently and communicate clearly with engineering/R&D teams and external stakeholders
Must be a U.S. citizen or otherwise authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship, and willing to relocate to Hawaii for the contract term (housing and transportation covered)

Nice To Haves

Experience with batch chemical processes specifically (vs. continuous)
Prior contract or turnaround work involving short-term relocation
Familiarity with process safety management (PSM) practices

Responsibilities

Ensure safe operations of Ayrton pilot plant in adherence with Ayrton and client site’s safety protocols, including chemical handling, PPE requirements and emergency procedures
Operate pilot-scale process equipment (reactors, distillation/separation units, pumps, and associated instrumentation) per batch and campaign schedules
Execute experimental runs and process trials alongside engineering and R&D staff, adjusting operating parameters as directed
Monitor and log process data (temperatures, pressures, flow rates, yields), flag deviations and provide feedback on process optimization/improvements
Perform routine equipment setup, changeover, and basic troubleshooting
Run basic lab analysis eg. FTIR, GC-TCD using Ayrton SOPs
Liaise with stakeholders on site for operational coordination eg. Startups, shutdowns, handling process upsets etc.
Follow and help write standard operating procedures (SOPs) as processes evolve
Perform minor maintenance activities eg. Filter change and coordinating with contractors and site client for more substantial maintenance activities
Ensure good housekeeping in the pilot plant and Ayrton’s work area
Supervise and train junior team members eg. interns