Technical Project Lead

Arbor Energy•El Segundo, CA

8d•$180,000 - $210,000•Onsite

About The Position

Arbor Energy & Resources Corporation is developing modular, fuel-flexible power systems that provide clean, reliable baseload electricity with zero operating emissions. Its technology centers on a supercritical CO₂ turbine with integrated carbon capture. The Technical Project Lead will drive engineering and execution of Arbor’s first-of-a-kind supercritical CO₂ power plant, from front-end engineering through construction, commissioning, and first power. This is an engineer-first role for someone with deep process or power plant engineering experience who can understand project dependencies and coordinate the work of a multidisciplinary team. The role begins with hands-on plant-level process design during FEED at Arbor’s headquarters in El Segundo, California, then shifts toward integration and field leadership at the plant site through commissioning and handover to a locally hired operations team. The lead will work with turbomachinery, combustion, controls, electrical, and test engineers. Travel may reach 75% during construction and commissioning and is under 20% during engineering; permanent relocation is not required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical, Mechanical, or a related Engineering field.
At least 8 years of experience in process or power plant engineering.
Experience carrying at least one pilot, demonstration, or commercial facility from front-end design through commissioning and startup, including significant time on site.
Strong process engineering fundamentals, including heat and material balances, P&IDs, equipment specification, relief design, and HAZOP/LOPA.
Working knowledge of ASME B31.3, BPVC Section VIII, and API 520/521.
Breadth across mechanical, electrical, controls, and civil disciplines sufficient to identify cross-discipline dependencies and critically review others’ work.
Owner’s-side experience directing engineering firms, vendors, and contractors.
A well-formed point of view on how contracting strategy and sequencing affect project cost and schedule.
Ability to travel up to 75% during construction and commissioning and under 20% during engineering; permanent relocation is not required.
Strong ownership mentality and sound judgment when working with incomplete information in a small, dynamic team.

Nice To Haves

First-of-a-kind or new-technology scale-up experience involving both process design and project execution.
Experience with gas turbine or combined-cycle plants, high-pressure rotating equipment, air separation, CO₂ compression, or supercritical CO₂ systems.
Experience with owner-integrated, EPCM, multi-package, or modular execution as alternatives to lump-sum EPC.
Operations or commissioning roots in a PSM-covered process facility or power plant.
Process simulation skills using Aspen HYSYS or Aspen Plus.
Scripting skills using Python or MATLAB.

Responsibilities

Own the integrated technical execution plan, mapping dependencies across disciplines, permitting, and procurement, and sequencing work according to decision needs.
Author or direct plant-level process design, including PFDs, heat and material balances, P&IDs, relief design, and utility design, integrating Arbor’s core technology with balance-of-plant systems.
Identify critical-path equipment and lead long-lead procurement, including specifications, bid evaluations, vendor design reviews, and factory acceptance tests.
Scope, select, and manage engineering firms, fabricators, and construction contractors; review their work in depth and own interfaces between packages.
Lead process safety activities, including HAZID, HAZOP/LOPA, and PSSR, and incorporate constructability, modularization, and commissioning sequence into design.
Lead on-site technical execution through construction, commissioning, first fire, and performance testing.
Partner with project management and supply chain on estimates, schedule, and contracting strategy, and apply lessons to standardized designs for future units.
Coordinate with turbomachinery, combustion, controls, electrical, and test engineers to deliver the plant.