Department: Innovation & Technology

Location: Renewable Innovation Center - Lexington, MA 

Travel Involved: 10-20%

Job Type: Hybrid 

Description:

Braskem, a global leader in the production of bio-based materials, has recently opened a new renewable research and development facility in Lexington, MA. This new 35,000 SFT facility will bring together scientists and engineers from a variety of disciplines to ideate and develop novel technologies for the production of bio-based chemicals and materials. 

Braskem Innovation and Technology is seeking an exceptional process engineer for conceptual process design and scale-up of emerging technologies in the area of bio-based chemicals via fermentation processes. The candidate will have primary responsibility for pilot plant design, ensuring technical risks are addressed and mitigated in scale-up. The ideal candidate will have a process development background, technological knowledge of purification techniques for bioprocesses, and aptitude for creative and innovative problem-solving.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop the conceptual process design for emerging new technologies within Braskem in collaboration with Braskem’s advanced modeling team. This will require configuring the initial process flowsheet from a blank sheet of paper for purification of new fermentation products.
• Work closely with the research team to guide experimental work with a view toward the commercial process design, and ensure relevant technical targets are set based on commercial process economics.
• Guide the pilot plant design and pilot testing program according to the conceptualized commercial design to ensure the key risks are mapped and minimized as the technology progresses through scale-up.
• Build strong relationships while working closely with the firms constructing the pilot plant units.
• Support process safety reviews for emerging technologies.
• Serve as the process expert during pilot and demo testing.
• Own responsibility as the expert on the process technology and key deliverables of the Process Design Package (PDP) that will be the basis for commercial design and engineering.

Additional Responsibilities and Activities:

• Identify and evaluate innovative and disruptive technologies through interaction with technology licensors, participation in events associated with bio-based chemical technologies, and review of international publications.
• Carry out technical-economic assessments, actively participating in the preparation and/or technical review of mass and energy balances, PFD's, Capex and Opex estimates, among others.
• Work with different teams within Braskem (e.g., process engineering, biotech and catalysis, sustainability, innovation, intellectual property, etc.) to guarantee the successful development of projects.
• Collaborate with universities, start-ups and technology hubs seeking new technologies that may be of interest to Braskem.

Requirements:

• M.S. in Chemical Engineering or relevant field (Ph.D. is a plus) with a strong background in new technology development.
• 10 years (including graduate research) of chemical process engineering or innovation and technology fields.
• Demonstrated experience in process development for fermentation product purification.
• Demonstrated expertise using process simulation software (Aspen Plus and Aspen Economic Analyzer)
• Experience bringing conceptual designs of processes to pilot or demonstration plant scale is highly desirable.
• Strong technical judgement to assess project decisions and timetables.
• Experience in pilot plant and/or demo plant operation is a plus.
• Ability and seniority to ensure good interpersonal relationships and people management, to work on projects with internal and external interfaces.
• Have a working knowledge of intellectual property.
• English is required, Portuguese is a plus.
• Candidate will work in a hybrid mode but must be willing to relocate to the greater Boston area. The position may require periodic travel to Pittsburgh and Brazil, to ensure a close working relationship with research teams at the Braskem Tech Centers.