Senior Process Engineer

Fortera•San Jose, CA

16d

About The Position

The Senior Process Engineer will lead engineering support for the design and operation of Fortera’s processes, including mineral grinding, kiln operation and calcination, mineral dissolution, gas absorption, precipitation, solids dewatering, and drying. This hands-on role bridges R&D, internal process design, and external engineering firms and equipment suppliers. The position is suited to an experienced mechanical or chemical engineer with chemical production experience who can oversee plant engineering activities and own equipment design and specification decisions. The engineer will address challenges associated with implementing new technology and manufacturing processes, making decisions and recommendations despite uncertainty. The role includes nominally 15% travel to plant sites and vendors during procurement, construction, and commissioning. Other related duties may be assigned as needed.

Requirements

Minimum B.S. in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering.
10+ years of engineering experience designing, scaling, building, and commissioning a chemical or materials manufacturing plant or similar production plant.
Well versed in engineering design utilizing PFDs, P&IDs, and Process Hazard Analyses (PHA).
Experience designing a plant through to its operation.
Proficient with Aspen+ or equivalent process modeling software.
Commanding knowledge of solids material handling, water treatment processing, slurry dewatering, and drying.
Experience interacting with external engineering firms, contractors, and equipment suppliers.
Experience with large industrial-sized rotating equipment.
Strong mechanical skills associated with plant operations and equipment.
Experience with process control schemes and implementation.
Experience with PLC controls for pilot and commercial plant operations.

Nice To Haves

Experience producing chemicals or materials at multiple scales.
Heat and Mass Balance experience.
Experience with Allen-Bradley PLC controls.

Responsibilities

Scale up and develop process unit operations from R&D for full-scale implementation.
Summarize process and regulatory requirements to evaluate and select plant equipment.
Validate production equipment selection.
Oversee plant piping material selections, line sizing, and pipe routing.
Participate in plant instrumentation and valve selections.
Participate in plant design.
Conduct Process Hazard Analysis and lead close-out resolutions.
Execute and improve the management of change program following the Process Hazard Analysis.
Develop and implement process controls.
Travel to plant sites and vendors during procurement, construction, and commissioning phases, nominally 15% of the time.
Perform other related duties as assigned by the Company.