Senior Process Technology Engineer

Sea Dragon Energy•Georgetown, TX

About The Position

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Process Technology Engineer to play a pivotal role in advancing our seawater-to-jet fuel pilot plant and preparing the technology for commercial scale-up. This is a hands-on technical leadership position focused on operational excellence, capital project execution, and technology evaluation in the emerging Power-to-Liquid / e-fuels sector. The ideal candidate will bring deep process engineering expertise, preferably in carbon capture, syngas chemistry, or synthetic fuel production and will thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment where pilot-scale innovation directly informs multi-million-dollar scale-up decisions.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in chemical engineering or mechanical engineering (or equivalent).
Minimum 10 years of progressive process engineering or process technology experience in the chemical, petrochemical, refining, or energy industries.
Demonstrated experience in pilot-plant or demonstration-scale operations, preferably involving high-pressure, high-temperature, or gas-to-liquids processes.
Proven track record leading capital projects valued up to $5 million (or equivalent scope).
Strong working knowledge of process simulation tools (Aspen Plus/HYSYS, UniSim, or equivalent), process flow diagrams (PFDs), P&IDs, and heat & material balance development.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams.
Ability to travel occasionally to vendor sites, testing facilities, or future commercial locations (estimated 10-30%).

Nice To Haves

Direct experience in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), CO₂ capture and utilization (CCU), Power-to-Liquid (PtL), Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, or related synthetic fuel / carbon-recycling technologies.
Background in hydrogen production, electrolysis integration, and/or gas purification systems.
Familiarity with relevant industry standards (API, ASME, NFPA) and process safety management (PSM).
Experience working in a startup or scale-up environment is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Deliver process engineering support to ensure safe, reliable, and optimized operation of the pilot facility.
Troubleshoot process upsets, perform root-cause analysis, and implement corrective actions for key unit operations including CO₂ capture, hydrogen production/integration, syngas synthesis, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, and product upgrading.
Monitor process data, develop and maintain performance metrics, and drive continuous improvement initiatives to increase yield, reduce downtime, and improve energy efficiency.
Support HAZOPs, safety reviews, and management-of-change (MOC) processes for pilot-plant modifications.
Collaborate closely with operations, maintenance, and analytical teams to translate pilot data into actionable insights.
Lead multidisciplinary capital projects from concept through commissioning, including feasibility studies, front-end engineering design (FEED), detailed design, procurement, construction, and start-up.
Develop project scopes, cost estimates, schedules, and risk registers; ensure projects are delivered on time, on budget, and meet technical and safety requirements.
Manage external engineering firms, vendors, and contractors while maintaining strict cost and schedule control.
Conduct post-project evaluations and capture lessons learned to refine future scale-up strategies.
Scout, evaluate, and recommend emerging and commercially ready technologies in CO₂ capture/utilization, hydrogen integration, synthesis gas generation, synthetic fuel synthesis, and downstream refining/upgrading.
Assist in techno-economic analyses (TEA) modeling, technology readiness level (TRL) assessments, and risk evaluations to support go/no-go decisions for scale-up deployment.
Build and maintain technology roadmaps that align pilot learnings with commercial plant design basis.
Establish and manage relationships with technology providers, universities, and research organizations.
Prepare technical reports, white papers, and presentations for internal stakeholders and potential investors or partners.