Process Engineer

About Air Protein

At Air Protein, we’re passionate about creating a new food system–one that pushes the boundaries of what anyone thought was possible and builds a healthy relationship between our food and our planet. This is a new era of sustainable production; we can use less and make more. We can feed the growing global population without destroying rainforests or warming the planet. Join our diverse team of passionate scientists, engineers, and business leaders working to create the future of food—meat made from elements of the air.

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As an innovative food company, we are crafting the world’s first air-based, non-animal meats to eliminate compromise between nutrition, taste, and climate impact. Using novel technology inspired by NASA, we convert elements found in the air into protein. Air Protein’s process is carbon-negative by design, using less land and water than animal meat production, and is powered by renewable energy. It’s where cutting-edge science meets bold ambition to reinvent the way we eat.

We’re currently seeking a Process Engineer (DSP) "Downstream Processing" to join our extraordinary team.

• Do you enjoy engineering and scientific principles, research theories, and models?

• Have you designed, planned, executed, and analyzed scalable process experiments in lab and pilot plant scale?

• Have you worked in collaboration with fermentation, pilot plant, analytical, product development functions?

• Do you have experience with downstream processing and purification associated with food grade protein production?

If you answered yes to these questions, then WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Benefits & Perks

In addition to the chance to work with a world-class team and cutting-edge technology to help combat climate change and address the impending food crisis, Air Protein employees also enjoy competitive benefits. We offer unlimited PTO, parental leave, 401K match, and compensation plans that include employee equity. Air Protein invests in employee development and the company culture is shaped by shared values:

• Protect people & the planet
• Play as a team and have a growth mindset
• Do what you say you will do
• Be the change you seek
• Create a culture of belonging

The Role:

The Process Engineer (DSP) is an experienced engineer or related occupation that is responsible for developing, designing, commissioning, and optimizing the downstream processing pilot and commercial scale protein purification in the company. This position will be in the SF/Bay Area and requires candidates to live in commutable distance to our facilities. Relocation assistance offered.

This role is actively responsible to:

• Apply engineering and scientific principles and models to design process engineering activities related to downstream processing and purification
• Design, plan, execute and analyze scalable process trials at pilot plant scale
• Lead scale-up activities from pilot scale to demo and commercial scale, including full process and equipment design in conjunction with design partners.
• Analyze and evaluate project designs and ensure compliance with engineering principles, food standards, regulatory requirements, and EHS standards.
• Troubleshoot and optimize downstream processes on pilot and commercial scale, and provide technical support to CMO.
• Commission pilot and commercial scale equipment and manufacturing lines.
• Conducts start-up field testing and troubleshoots new, modified, and current systems and equipment related to a project.
• Collaboration with fermentation, pilot plant, analytical, product development functions with all development objectives.
• Support creation of capital proposals including scope document, cost estimate, and timelines for management review and approval.
• Prepare process specifications through engineering calculations, develop process flow diagrams (PFD’s), piping and instrumentation drawings (P&ID’s), site and floor plans, and other project documentation as applicable
• Provide technical oversight and collaborate with the capital projects team to meet all technical requirements while ensuring they stay on-time and within budget.
• Lead the selection of contractors/vendors and supervise same in actual design and specifications of installations
• Creates installation and operational qualification documents (IQ/OQ) and implements IQ's/OQ's upon management approval
• Assists with the completion of cleaning qualification (CQ)
• Develop and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's) to detail operations of new equipment or modified processes, and train operations and maintenance personnel.
• Create and maintain mass and energy balance and capacity models.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Chemical Engineering preferred) or Life Sciences

• 3+ years of experience in downstream processing methods including extraction, filtration, centrifugation, membrane filtration, drying, and experience working on protein purification.

• Experience developing processes at the pilot scale and designing large scale equipment.

• Prior food GMP experience in food or biotech.

• Experience commissioning pilot or commercial scale equipment.

• Prior experience with production scale biotech process equipment.

• Background in food, pharma, or biotech processing to include sanitary and/or aseptic factory/process design.

Skills & Qualities

• Able to recognize when optimization, correction, or custom changes are necessary

• Ability to troubleshoot and manage operations

• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to act proactively to create exceptional experiences for internal and external audiences

• Professional experience in roles requiring both independent creativity and collaboration with multiple stakeholders

• Understand the use of technology as a competitive differentiator

Check us out in the media, news, and in the community:

• Forbes: The Meatless Mafia: Four Companies Revolutionizing the Future of Food
• World Economic Forum: Air Protein Named WEF Technology Pioneer
• TED Talk: A forgotten Space Age Technology Could Change How We Grow Food
• Bloomberg: Crop Trader ADM Pours Money Into Firm Making Meat Out of Air

Air Protein Is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Air Protein, we are committed to providing equal opportunities. Because we want the absolute best people, we enthusiastically invite people of every race, color, orientation, age, gender, origin, and ability – or any other status protected by law – to apply to join our team. Research has shown that women and people from marginalized groups may not apply for a role if they aren't a 100% match.  Please don't hold back.  If you think you will excel in this role, but perhaps you don’t tick every box, we'd appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.