Technology and Process Engineer

Summit Utilities Inc • Portland, ME

5h • Hybrid

About The Position

This role will support technology and process innovation in advancing the organization’s renewable gas portfolio by leading technology diligence, process improvements, early‑stage feasibility analysis, and technical oversight of third-party consultants & contractors. This role focuses on developing and maintaining internal evaluation tools, reviewing third-party process and design deliverables, and making key design and safety recommendations that improve project feasibility, asset performance, and technology deployments, with a primary near‑term focus on AD and biogas upgrading and an emerging focus on synthetic gas processing. The position requires a hands‑on process, chemical, or biological engineer who is effective at working cross‑functionally with internal teams and external partners to ensure high-quality, safe, and economically sound technologies and processes are developed and deployed across the organization’s renewable gas portfolio.

Requirements

• ABET accredited Bachelor’s engineering degree required with core focus in chemical, process, or biological engineering preferred.
• 3–5+ years of relevant experience in process engineering with exposure to biogas, renewable natural gas (RNG), anaerobic digestion, synthetic gas, gas processing, or closely related process industries required.
• Demonstrated experience contributing to the generation of technical process design deliverables (e.g., PFDs, P&IDs, hydraulic calculations, equipment sizing).
• Strong understanding of process engineering fundamentals, including mass and energy balances, fluid flow, heat and mass transfer, and reaction/biological processes relevant to renewable gas systems.
• Familiarity with biogas and synthetic systems, including anaerobic digestion processes, biogas cleaning and upgrading technologies (membrane, PSA, scrubbing), and syngas production, cleanup, and conditioning.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain internal process models and screening tools (e.g., robust spreadsheet‑based calculations or similar) to support early‑stage project evaluation. Exposure to higher‑end process modeling/simulators (e.g., Aspen, HYSYS, or equivalent) preferred.
• Experience in reviewing and critiquing process deliverables prepared by others (PFDs, P&IDs, equipment datasheets, control philosophies, hydraulics) and translating those into clear recommendations.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail, with experience using operating or test data to stress‑test assumptions, identify process risks, and inform design and optimization recommendations.
• Effective communicator with the ability to explain process concepts, constraints, and risks clearly to both technical and non‑technical audiences, summarize complex contractor reports, and contribute meaningfully to cross‑functional decision‑making forums.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with operations, engineering project managers, plant engineers, analysts, asset managers, and commercial teams, acting as a technical bridge between external engineering resources and internal stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects, design reviews, and analytical tasks concurrently while maintaining quality and meeting deadlines in a dynamic, growing renewable gas business.

Nice To Haves

• Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in an appropriate discipline (e.g., Chemical, Environmental) or ability to obtain licensure within a reasonable timeframe is preferred.
• Experience working with or managing EPCs, engineering consultants, or equipment vendors on process design and implementation for industrial, infrastructure, or energy projects is preferred.
• Exposure to higher‑end process modeling/simulators (e.g., Aspen, HYSYS, or equivalent) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform process design evaluation and modeling for renewable gas systems, including anaerobic digestion, biogas upgrading, and synthetic gas production, focusing on early‑stage project screening and feasibility evaluations.
• Own the development and maintenance of internal process models and standard design tools/templates (e.g., sizing tools, PFDs, calculation templates) to evaluate project opportunities to support project development.
• Manage programs, contractors, and consultants responsible for producing technical and process design deliverables. Complete detailed reviews of work and provide design, process, and safety recommendations.
• Perform technology diligence and vendor evaluation for anaerobic digestion, biogas upgrading, and synthetic gas production/cleanup/conditioning technologies by reviewing process design information, performance guarantees, operating envelopes, and integration requirements.
• Engage with cross-functional teams tasked with screening project economics and feasibility assessments in accordance with development budgets and provide technical input to guide early‑stage project development, including: performing site evaluations developing conceptual configurations review of preliminary process design deliverables (PFD’s, H&MB, equipment sizing) process risk identification. other process‑related inputs while accounting for cost and constructability
• Assist with the management, oversight, and guidance of EPCs and engineering service providers who participate in strategic programs and/or deliver owner’s engineering, detailed design, and construction support, ensuring alignment with internal standards, safety expectations, and objectives.
• Provide technical input on relevant provisions in third-party contractual agreements, assisting the Manager of Technology & Process Innovation and other internal stakeholders to negotiate robust and realistic commitments.
• Identify and develop process‑related KPIs, monitoring tools, and standard methodologies that can be adopted by operations, plant engineering, and asset management teams to track performance and drive continuous improvement across the renewable gas portfolio.
• Contribute engineering insights and standardized tools that inform the renewable gas technology roadmap, including technical design & process standards and preferred technology configurations.
• Work closely with project managers, operations, plant engineers, asset managers, financial analysts, and other internal stakeholders to align process assumptions, technical design decisions, and optimize project opportunities with real‑world performance and business needs.
• Communicate technical design and process considerations, risks, and tradeoffs clearly to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders, including summarizing complex third-party deliverables into clear recommendations for decision‑makers.
• Travel 25–50% of the time to project sites, engineering offices, and vendor locations to support development activities, design reviews, commissioning, and operational optimizations, as needed.

Benefits

• Summit offers competitive pay and medical/dental/vision and other benefits that provide flexibility, choice and support to our employees when they need it most.
• We understand that home and family are essential pieces of your life, and our benefits are designed to support you both at work and at home.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees