Senior Process Development Engineer

Mascoma Corporation is a cellulosic biomass-to-ethanol company with corporate headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts, and Research and Development labs in Lebanon, New Hampshire. Mascoma is leading the development of unique biotechnology and deployment of cellulosic production. Initial deployment activities are focused on strategic partnerships for conversion of wood-based cellulosic feedstocks into ethanol, at relevant commercial scale. 
Senior Process Development Engineer



Description/Purpose:

 

As part of the Process Development and Technology Transfer Group, the Senior Process Development Engineer will develop, evaluate and commercially deploy new and improved processes and technologies related to the production of fuel ethanol from lignocellulosic feedstocks.  The Senior Process Development Engineer will design and oversee process development trials and experiments in the feedstock, pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and fermentation process areas.  Includes bench, pilot, and demonstration scale trials, analysis of the results, mathematical modeling of the processes, and preparation of reports. 

 

This position will report to the Sr. Director of Process Development at Mascoma Corporation and will be based in the Boston, Massachusetts area, with routine travel to Mascoma's research labs in Lebanon New Hampshire, Mascoma's planned demonstration and commercial cellulosic ethanol facilities, and pilot and/or vendor facilities.

Key Responsibilities:

The selected individual will be responsible for a range of activities within the process development and technology transfer areas as they relate to the evaluation and subsequent commercialization of cellulosic ethanol production processes/technologies.  These responsibilities will include:

 

· Design, oversight, and execution of process development projects.

· Development of technology transfer documents.

·Management of process development program(s) and project teams including the preparation of project plans and reports.

· Overseeing trials and experiments at various pilot facilities; including travel to facilities and oversight of trials/experiments.

·Analyzing data and process modeling.

· Interacting with R&D and Process Engineering team members.

· Process engineering and start-up support.

· Professional development of junior engineering staff.
·Supervision and mentoring of process development engineers and technicians.

Minimum Qualification:

Master's degree in chemical engineering or a related field with ten to fifteen years of relevant experience; Ph.D. in chemical engineering or a related field with five to ten years of relevant experience.  Specific experience in one of the following areas:

 

· Biomass processing, especially as related to the pretreatment of cellulosic materials for subsequent production of products via fermentation

· Industrial fermentations (pilot through commercial scale)

· Solids separation (pilot through commercial scale)

· Distillation (pilot through commercial scale)

 

In addition an ideal candidate will possess several of the following skills:

 

· Experience with lignocellulosic biomass characterization, pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and fermentation.

· Ability to work well in a team as well as independently with minimal supervision.

· Proven and effective personnel management and project leadership skills.

· Proficiency for multitasking in a fast-paced start-up environment.

· Strong communication, technical writing, and presentation skills.

· Previous experience executing vendor equipment trials.

· Previous experience overseeing pilot testing at contract manufacturing sites.

· Experience in ethanol production, biomass processing, and/or industrial fermentation.

· Experience with Process Flow Diagrams, P&IDs, and instrumentation and controls.

· Direct experience with design and implementation of process systems including preliminary conceptual design, detailed design, vendor selection, fabrication and installation oversight, commissioning, and startup.

· Familiarity with process modeling and numerical analysis software (e.g. Excel, Aspen, Matlab).
Mascoma is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, gender, age, color, religion, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other protected factor.