Chemical Process Engineer

About NovoLINC

NovoLINC is a deep-tech spin-off from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and the ARPA-E COOLERCHIPS program, dedicated to creating the world's best thermal solutions to drive sustainable global technological advancement. Our universal, high-performance thermal interface material (TIM) is designed to meet the critical demands of energy-dense devices and systems. We serve a range of industries, including semiconductors, electronic devices, AI data centers, automotive, and aerospace, with best-in-class thermal interface solutions.

At NovoLINC, we believe in a people first approach to company growth where our employees are our most valuable resource and all team members are given the opportunity to contribute and grow their skills. 

Position Overview

NovoLINC is growing its technical team in chemical engineering and manufacturing. We are looking for a self-motivated, detail-oriented chemical process engineer to join us in an hands-on, individual contributor capacity as we expand our manufacturing processes. This is an active laboratory and chemical handling role with opportunity to ideate and build new scaled-up chemical processes, suitable for anyone with an industrial chemical background, commitment to safety, and a growth mindset.

Working directly under the Director of Technology and Manufacture as a hands-on individual contributor within the engineering team, the chemical process engineer will be responsible for the day-to-day development, operation, chemical handling, and maintenance of a range of plating processes, ensuring quality standards and throughput goals are met for our customers. The role involves direct, hands-on execution using electroplating lines, maintenance of metal concentration through lab testing and plating testing, as well as the active handling and scale-up of bulk hazardous chemicals such as acids, bases, and solvents.

Key Responsibilities

• Working with the Director of Technology and Manufacture to run chemical processes of various scales from benchtop to production.
• Utilizing knowledge in chemical process development and processes related to our products and building on those technologies to develop new methods and Chemistry for scale-up.
• Working to ensure quality and throughput standards are met and maintained for customers through process improvement with lean methodology. 
• Working with external suppliers and partners to ensure supply of materials and chemistry is consistent and of high quality.
• Specifying, sourcing and installing any new methods or equipment for bath maintenance and chemical testing.
• Developing and implementing hands-on maintenance programs for all chemical process tanks including electroplating tanks to create quality control and standard tests to ensure plating quality is maintained and bath health is monitored proactively.
• Developing automated and semi-automated test processes for parts and process chemistry tanks to improve efficiency and part quality and maintain a results driven sampling process, data storage and feedback system. 
• Showing a commitment to an exemplary level of safe and trustworthy handling of hazardous chemicals and processes and ensuring the use of all provided personal protective equipment.
• Processing quality and testing data using statistics principles to give timely and accurate reports to the Director of Technology and Manufacture.
• Maintaining a system for batch control for created samples for quality control.
• Handling of hazardous waste streams by ensuring waste is stored safely and working with approved partners for safe disposal.
• Generating written experimental reports for management.

Qualifications - Required

• BS in chemistry, chemical engineering, or materials science
• Must Have - At least 2 years experience in an industrial environment.
• Hands on lab experience working with solvents, acid and base solutions and commitment to using safe lab practices.
• Solid understanding of chemical redox reactions, solution phase and surface chemistry.
• Must be able to work onsite 100% at our physical locations in Harmar Township and Sharpsburgh, PA
• Proven technical and non-technical communication skills both verbally and in written reports.

Qualifications - Preferred

• Experience in copper, nickel, or similar industrial electroplating processes or electrochemistry.
• Experience in surface science or organic chemistry.
• Experience in taking bench scale chemical processes to larger scales for manufacturing.
• Experience with Design of Experiments (DOE) methodology to guide process development and optimization.
• Experience in continuous manufacturing processes, especially those involving electroplating.
• Programming experience for data handling in Python, R, MATLAB or similar for data gathering or analysis.
• Solid understanding of statistical principles and proven experience in application in statistical assessment of data using Minitab, JMP or similar.
• Knowledge of process development using tools such as Lean Six Sigma, root cause analysis, DMAIC etc.

Benefits

NovoLINC offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including health care, flexible paid time off (PTO). This is an opportunity to work with a team of highly motivated individuals who are driving innovation in the thermal management industry.