ENGINEER - RESEARCH ENGINEER - Chemical Engineer - Fuels and Energy Development

  • Southwest Research Institute
  • San Antonio, Texas
  • Full Time

Who We Are:

Fuels and Energy Development Section works in pilot plant services and process development of new first of their kind processes.

Objectives of this Role:

  • Support and lead technical engineering design for first of its kind technologies. Key focus on Fuels and Energy Development but not limited to.
  • Conduct business development for existing and new areas. Focus on novel idea generation that can have impact in Fuels and Energy Development.
  • Support overall chemical engineering department with emphasis on department safety culture, waste disposal, procedure generation.
  • Lead pilot plant buildup and modification work for new and existing pilot plants to generate value added data for end clients.
  • Become an expert in equipment and instrumentation design and procurement along with supporting inventory control for pilot plants.

Daily and Monthly Responsibilities:

  • Design processes or unit operations for chemical or refinery systems.
  • Plan and conduct research and process development work in fuels and energy development areas. Expand particular area of expertise.
  • Support ongoing projects through pilot plant operations (Shift work may be required), data compilation, mass and energy balances, operator training, procedure development, laboratory upkeep, maintenance, and safety review/document preparation. Department safety emphasis.
  • Opportunity to operate pilot plants as a lead operator during processing campaigns (requiring shift work and/or weekends).
  • Create process simulations using commercial software in addition to input/output, process flow and process instrumentation diagrams.
  • Conduct strategic business development activities.
  • Provide technical supervision to other engineers, technicians, analyst, and pilot plant operators.
  • Emphasis on proposal writing and publications.
  • Communicate with vendors, clients, and operators to set up equipment and construct systems for new processes.
  • Promote and secure new work as trained through mentorship and internal business development training.

Requirements:

  • Requires a Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering.
  • Shift work required.
  • 0-2 years: Direct experience with chemical engineering process development work (developing Excel spreadsheets for chemical engineering calculations and data compilation) to include designing and conducting lab scale to pilot scale experiments.
  • 0-2 years: High attention to detail in calculations, design, and operations. Must be able to develop process flow diagrams, process and instrumentation diagrams, I/O diagrams, and process control strategies.
  • 0-2 years: Must be able to communicate clearly and interface with clients or potential clients as needed in the course of the project or proposal process. Must be able to conduct tasks in parallel. Experience with actual hands-on buildup of processes and test systems is helpful.
  • 0-2 years: Experience in any of the following areas: biofuels, hydrotreating, carbon capture, carbon utilization, plastics recycling, pyrolysis, delayed coking, distillation, electrolysis, clean hydrogen, biomass conversion.
  • full-face respirator may be required.
  • A valid/clear driver's license is required.

Special Requirements:

Must be a U.S. person (i.e., U.S. citizen, non-U.S. citizen national, lawful permanent resident, asylee, or refugee) due to ITAR work in section.

Job Locations: San Antonio, Texas

For more information about this division, visit the Chemistry & Chemical Engineering home page.

For benefits information at our San Antonio location, click here.

For benefits information at all other locations, click here.

An Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, and veteran status.

Job ID: 478204281
Originally Posted on: 5/23/2025

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