Process Engineer - Optimation & CMO

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 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, 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 - Optimization & CMO to join our extraordinary team.

• Are you passionate about scaling processes from pilot scale to commercial?

• Do you have experience creating process simulations and technical models?

• Are you skilled at optimizing pilot and commercial scale plants?

• Do you have experience with technology transfer?

• Have you worked with hydrogen and/or have robust knowledge of PSM?

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 Optimization & CMO is experienced with designing, building, commissioning, and optimizing pilot and commercial scale equipment that utilizes high pressure and/or flammable gasses for chemical and or biological processes. They're responsible for process modeling and simulation, including mass and energy balances, to guide process development and technology evaluation. This role would play a significant part in technology transfer to strategic partners and third party manufacturing partners. This position will be located in the SF/Bay Area and requires candidates to live in commutable distance to our facilities. Relocation assistance offered.

Key Responsibilities

• Apply engineering and scientific principles to design upstream and downstream food manufacturing processes
• Support Process Development of current and future food products by understanding scalability of process technologies.
• Serve as the design approval facilitator and gatekeeper for the technical team
• Ensure compliance with engineering principles, food standards, regulatory requirements, and EHS standards
• Lead tech transfers and attend production runs for optimization and data collection as needed
• Translate process requirements into engineering design for tech transfer, scale-ups, and process design
• Create technical capital project documentation 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
• Build safety in the design and operation of gas generators, storage, and delivery to fermenters/bioreactors and support Project Safety Management (PSM)

Qualifications

• Bachelors in Engineering or related life sciences (Chemical engineering or mechanical engineering degree preferred)
• 5+ years of experience working in food, pharma, or biotech manufacturing industry
• Experience optimizing processes in pilot scale and designing large scale equipment.
• Experience commissioning pilot or commercial scale equipment.
• Background in food processing to include sanitary factory/process design and GMP regulations
• Able to recognize when optimization, correction, or custom changes are necessary - ability to troubleshoot and manage operations
• Experience in design and simulation of food manufacturing processes

Preferred

• Experience in controls and automation is an asset

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 stakeholders
• Professional experience in roles requiring both independent creativity and collaboration with multiple stakeholders
• Understand the use of technology as a competitive differentiator
• Strong leadership in safety, demonstrated
• Able to develop new systems / scale up innovations

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.