Lead Engineer, Process Design

About this role

About AIRCO

AIRCO is a world leader in carbon conversion technology, paving the way to global energy security by transforming CO₂ into a valuable resource. Its proprietary AIRMADE™ Technology is an adaptable platform that allows any industry to efficiently produce high-demand, fully-formulated synthetic fuels from waste CO₂ and hydrogen.

The company has commercial partnerships with airlines including JetBlue and Virgin Atlantic, amongst others, and has been awarded multiple government contracts, including with NASA and the United States Department of Defense's Defense Innovation Unit. The company has received industry recognition through awards such as Time Best Inventions, Inc. Best in Business, Fast Company World Changing Ideas, and the XPrize for Carbon Removal.

AIRCO’s many accolades include winning the prestigious Green Chemistry Challenge Award from the Environmental Protection Agency in October 2023, an award given to organizations that reinvent processes to reduce the generation of hazardous substances and byproducts. AIRCO was also declared a winner for the World Economic Forum UpLink Sustainable Aviation Challenge, which accelerates the development of promising technology pathways that enable widespread uptake of SAF.

The Position

We are seeking a Lead Engineer, Process Design to join our team. This role will report to our Manager of Engineering. This position will provide technical leadership on engineering flowsheet development, process simulation and design, process mass and heat balance generation, process equipment selection and design, PFDs, P&IDs, equipment datasheets etc. This role will be a part of our Engineering department, and will work closely with our scientists, engineers, and operations team. This role is based in New Britain, PA and works on-site three days per week

What you get to do.

• Lead the development of Process Design Packages for new technologies developed by AIRCO research and development organization. These packages will provide the technical basis for FEL, FEED, and detailed engineering performed by EPC contractors.

• Lead process synthesis, simulation and design, generation of material & heat balance, equipment selection and design, PFD and P&ID generation, equipment data sheet generation, process hydraulics calculation, HAZOP reviews for commercial units based on carbon dioxide conversion technologies developed by AIRCO

• Serve as the primary process-engineering liaison among R&D, operations, EPC contractors, customers, and other engineering disciplines throughout project development, construction support, commissioning, and startup

• Support process-economic evaluations, cost estimates, project planning, and technical decision making by clearly communicating assumptions, findings, risks, and recommendations

• Ensure compliance with applicable engineering standards, internal design guidelines, and environmental, health and safety regulations for all the AIRCO developed technologies and processes.

• Represent AIRCO in external meetings and present engineering solutions, technical recommendations, and process-design packages.

• Develop engineering standards and work practices, mentor internal teams, and promote a safe, collaborative, and high-quality engineering environment.

What you bring to AIRCO

• Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering required; advanced degree preferred

• 10-15 years of design experience in refining, petrochemical, chemical, gas processing, or a related process industry.

• Expertise in industry-standard process simulation modeling: Aspen Plus, HYSYS

• Expertise in generating commercial scale heat and material balances, PFDs, P&IDs, equipment specifications, datasheets, hydraulics, and Process Design Packages.

• Strong knowledge of process equipment design, development, sizing, and selection.

Working at AIRCO - In addition to standard medical and dental benefits, that kick in Day 1, AIRCO is:

• A team of engineers, scientists, operators, builders, and innovators working on hard problems with tangible impact.

• A company building and deploying real systems for fuel and chemical production in real-world conditions.

• A hands-on environment where ownership is clear, decisions stay close to the work, and teams move with trust, discipline, and speed.

• Driven by work that matters, with a culture grounded in safety, teamwork, transparency, purpose, agility, ambition, and creativity.

We also provide:

Comprehensive Health Benefits

• Full coverage for employee base premiums on health, dental, and vision