Senior Process Controls Engineer

About Ammobia
Ammobia is on a mission to revolutionize the ammonia industry. We are a seed-stage startup developing Haber Bosch 2.0 – a next-generation ammonia synthesis process enabling cost-effective, clean ammonia production. Clean ammonia will support ammonia’s growing role in our decarbonized world, tackling some of the most difficult to abate sectors including fertilizers, deep-sea shipping, chemicals production, and energy storage. We are supported by leading climate tech organizations including Starlight Ventures, Collaborative Fund, Third Derivative, Forbes 30u30, and more.

Job Description
Until now, ammonia production has been a steady-state, high inertia process. We are developing new regimes of physics and plant design that require dynamic processes, especially for ammonia production from intermittent renewable energy sources. You will be the team’s controls expert and apply your expertise to bench and pilot scale reactor/skid builds as well as conceptual design of large-scale ammonia production plants. You will be the interface between process design, system modeling, and hardware implementation.

You will be the first controls engineer at Ammobia and work closely with the co-founders to develop and scale up Ammobia’s proprietary thermochemical ammonia synthesis process. You will be a key member of a growing team of engineers and scientists; there will be significant opportunity to grow your role with the company. Responsibilities may include:
 

• Design and implement industrial control systems for Ammobia’s process at the bench, pilot, and eventual commercial-scale
• Develop control narratives based on process engineering needs and integrate into Ammobia’s various processes
• Design and integrate data acquisition and management into control systems across scales
• Work with process team to model system dynamics at the plant-level and optimize plant operation and equipment for dynamic operation
• Supervise and mentor junior engineers and interns, especially for hardware controls implementation and PLC programming
• Troubleshoot and resolve software, fluid handling, electronic, and mechanical equipment issues on test equipment
• Work with external vendors to specify and/or design and procure custom equipment
  

Who you are:
Successful applicants may have some but not all the following – we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all listed requirements.

You are a controls, process, and systems-minded engineer with a background in chemical processing, energy systems, aerospace, or other dynamic fluid systems. You think from first principles and move quickly to implement and test ideas. You enjoy fast-paced, hands-on work, and are comfortable addressing unknowns. You are comfortable and experienced in leading projects, identifying needs at the project, team, and company level, and discovering and eliminating technical risks.
 

• 5+ years of relevant experience leading process controls projects in industrial setting (must-have)
• Ability to apply engineering principles, including control theory, system dynamics, heat and mass transport and thermodynamics, to design equipment, analyze experimental data, and solve problems
• Demonstrated expertise implementing bench and pilot scale instrumentation and control systems (e.g. PLC, SCADA, LabView, python, etc.)
• Working knowledge of process engineering and design principles
• Experience designing, building and/or modifying process equipment (especially Swagelok-style gas delivery systems, furnaces, and similar)
• Self-motivated, hands-on attitude, with a willingness to contribute at all levels
• Background in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, computer science, or similar. Advanced degree preferred but not required
  

Nice-to-have:

• Experience in start-up environments
• Demonstrated expertise in with dynamic process modeling, e.g. in Aspen, Simulink, ProSim, Aveva, or similar
• Experience working in lab- and/or industrial-scale chemical or materials manufacturing settings
• Experience in heterogeneous catalysis, reaction engineering, and/or separations
• Expertise in thermal equipment design, especially gas-liquid heat exchangers
• Prior experience working with industrial design practices, codes, and standards (IEEE, ASME, API, NFPA, and similar)
  

Who we are:
We are a small and passionate team of scientists and engineers. We value teamwork, accountability, rigorous debate, and rapid iteration. We emphasize career growth, mutual feedback, and a fun and exciting working environment. Check out ammobia.co/careers for our full values statement and ammobia.co/team to learn more about us!

The position is full-time and in-person in San Francisco, CA. Compensation and job title will be commensurate with experience.

Benefits include:

• Healthcare, dental, vision, life insurance
• 401k
• Gym benefit
• Team bonding activities, so far including sailing in the Bay, waterfront happy hour, and bowling
• High quality espresso drinks and latte art training
• Generous time off, including closure between Christmas and New Years
  
  

Ammobia provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.