Solugen

14549 Minetta St., Houston TX 77035

Position

Separations Process Development Scientist/Engineer

About Solugen:

Solugen, Inc. is a revolutionary technology company seeking to use biology to transform the chemicals industry. Solugen was founded in 2016 and is a post-Series B venture-backed startup company supported by renowned venture capital firms including Founders Fund, Fifty Years, Refactor, and Y Combinator. Located in Houston, Texas, Solugen is currently scaling up its manufacturing facility to use its chemienzymatic process to manufacture biobased chemistries for water treatment, agriculture, and personal care. Solugen currently has 80+ full time employees.

Mission

Solugen is building a 10,000 tpy first commercial plant with the potential to offset up to 37,000 tpy of carbon dioxide equivalents, with several potential future processes. This role will directly support Solugen's mission by developing novel separations processes at the benchtop scale, running pilot-scale experiments, and scaling successful processes to our 10,000 tpy plant. Reporting to the Director of Process Development, this is a hands-on role where individual's initiative, engineering prowess, and energy level will make a substantial impact on the company's mission. This role is ideal both for both scientists and engineers with experience in separations development, especially with experience around Simulated Moving Bed (SMB) separations. Additionally, this individual will assist with process technology challenges such as equipment installation, commissioning, and troubleshooting, as needed. 

Key Outcomes

1. Commission and operate benchtop and pilot Simulated Moving Bed separations equipment, both for sample preparation and for pilot to manufacturing scale-down studies
2. Design and perform benchtop and pilot experiments oriented around separations process development
3. Develop scale-up protocols and technology transfer documentation to take benchtop processes to pilot and manufacturing scales
4. Develop techno-economic models of potential processes to assess profitability and suggest future research paths
5. Learn Solugen's current processes and operate pilot optimization trials as needed
6. Assist with installation, commissioning, and start-up of new equipment

Key Competencies

Job Specific

• Experience with Simulated Moving Bed (SMB) chromatography separations required

• Experience with separations technologies such as membrane separations/TFF, adsorption (ion exchange, chromatography, carbon filtration), evaporation, distillation, centrifugation, and crystallization 

• Proven track record of new technology implementation and scale-up 

• Excited to learn new things

• Analytical approach to problem solving, with a focus on managing a team environment with attention to results and a sense of urgency

• Attention to detail and organization.

• Good communication, negotiation, leadership, and project management skills with the desire to further develop these skills as the company grows.

• Commitment to safe workplace goals and practices that ensure operational integrity, including compliance with all regulatory policies and procedures.

• Comfortable following safety protocols and wearing personal protective equipment—including hard hats, gloves, earplugs, and respirators--in work zones.

• Good familiarity with Office products as well as a general level of comfort with online communication and work management platforms such as Dropbox, Google Doc, and Slack.

Company Specific

• Ask a lot of questions, be curious, and have insights into your work

• Be nimble, embrace the speed and ambiguity of startup culture.

• A passion for green chemistry and fighting climate change.

• Ability to self-manage and set your own priorities and schedule.

• Be comfortable working in multiple roles.

• Emphasize safety above all else.

• Respect for others.

• Creative problem solving.

• Willingness to learn and research new engineering/science concepts.

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or similar + 4 years' experience

OR

Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or similar + 2 years' experience

Solugen is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other legally protected status.