Chemical R&D Engineer
About Ammobia
Ammobia is pioneering the first fundamental breakthrough in ammonia production since 1909. Our modular Haber-Bosch 2.0 technology operates at low pressures and high single-pass conversions, delivering 2x lower capital costs; making ammonia affordable from any hydrogen source, across scale for any use case.
Backed by strategic investors including Shell Ventures, Air Liquide, Chevron, MOL, and by the US Department of Energy, we are building the essential infrastructure for fuel, fertilizer and the future of energy.
About the role
Ammobia is hiring an R&D Engineer to advance our materials and reaction platforms across lab, bench, and pilot scales. You will design, source, and synthesize new catalysts and sorbents; design and test reactor systems; and scale your innovations through to TRL 6 pilot systems.
You will be at the heart of Ammobia’s R&D program, developing our next generation of reaction processes and proving them at commercially relevant scales and timeframes. You are comfortable wearing many hats, moving fast, and getting your hands dirty building and running systems.
What you will do
Conduct and manage tests on advanced reactor systems and materials characterization systems, including specifying/building custom reactor equipment
Transfer lab and bench scale R&D learnings and achievements to pilot demonstration, including developing operating procedures, designing test campaigns, leading lab- and pilot-scale system turnarounds, and analyzing data
Design and optimize active catalysts, gas sorbents, and formed composite materials, including via both internal development and external research programs
Develop analytical and computational models of gas-solid reaction processes , set target specifications, link ex-situ measurements to in-reactor performance, transfer reaction engineering knowledge to plant process engineering team
Work with a small team of scientists, engineers, and technicians
Develop intellectual property across materials, process, and reactor development
Perform all work in a safe manner and help promote lab safety culture
Requirements
Deep quantitative understanding of thermodynamics, kinetics, and heat/mass transport
Deep expertise in heterogeneous catalysis, gas sorption, and/or reaction engineering
Demonstrated expertise transferring R&D designs and learnings to pilot scales
Demonstrated expertise developing and owning test plans and data outputs reactor and chemical process systems
Hands on experience specifying, designing, and building custom research and pilot scale chemical equipment, including working knowledge of automation and control systems
Experience working with technicians and operators to execute test plans
Demonstrated expertise in data analysis of time series processes in Python and/or MATLAB; proficiency with agentic coding for scientific computing
Expertise in chemical reactor modeling including working knowledge of reactor design equations
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Demonstrated experience managing small teams
Prior startup experience and excitement about working at an early-stage start-up
3+ years' experience in relevant industrial setting. Applicants without industrial experience will not be considered.
Nice-to-haves
MS or PhD in Chemical Engineering or similar
Experience managing technicians, interns, or junior engineers
Operational experience in pilot chemical plants
Proficiency in techno-economic modeling
Expertise in catalyst manufacturing and scale-up
Demonstrated experience designing and implementing automated control and data systems