What are the responsibilities and job description for the Chemical process engineer position at Roadrunner Venture Studio?
Company info. Build big; build fast. Directly fabricating large components on-site minimizes transport and assembly labor, forever simplifying construction and supply chains. But realizing that future requires new materials that are strong, low-cost, and can be manufactured with unprecedented speed and reliability.
Fiber-reinforced polymer composites (FRPs) have untapped potential for building big because unlike metals, their properties and processing are independent of each other. FRP processing can be hacked by innovations in resin chemistry.
Perseus, established 2022, is a start-up out of Stanford University that uses proprietary resin chemistry for on-site manufacturing of oversize high-performance FRPs for buildings, bridges, wind turbines, and other applications in infrastructure and energy. We work closely with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and have support from the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and ARPA-E.
Check out of recent coverage on Core Memory: This Machine Could Be A US Manufacturing Breakthrough.
What You’ll Do
You’ll play a key role in understanding and optimizing the behavior of advanced reactive resin systems. This includes modeling polymerization kinetics, supporting process development, and running hands-on trials to validate hypotheses and improve performance.
\n- Analyze and model resin behavior using analytical and computational tools
- Support the development and scale-up of novel thermosetting resin systems
- Decide key performance indicators for process control and efficiency
- Design and execute lab-scale and pilot-scale process trials; interpret experimental data to inform process improvements and material performance
- Collaborate with materials scientists and mechanical engineers to integrate chemistry with manufacturing
- Contribute to documentation, safety protocols, and process standardization
- Degree in Chemical Engineering or related field (B.S. required; M.S. or Ph.D. a plus)
- Strong understanding of heat and mass transfer, fluids, and reactor design
- Experience with modeling tools (e.g., MATLAB, Python, Aspen, or similar) for chemical processes
- Hands-on experience in a lab or pilot-scale chemical processing environment
- Experience in a startup or R&D environment
- Experience in chemical hazards and process safety
- Familiarity with thermoset resin systems or composite manufacturing
- Experience with calorimetry, rheology, or spectroscopy for polymer analysis
Roadrunner Venture Studios is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that proudly pursues and hires a diverse workforce. We do not make hiring or employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion or religious belief, ethnic or national origin, nationality, sex, gender, gender-identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws or prohibited by Company policy. We strive for a healthy and safe workplace and strictly prohibit harassment of any kind.