Reactor Design Engineer

Company Overview:

Nitricity is a startup addressing climate change, and we are looking for your help! We are  innovating in an essential chemical industry that supports global food systems. The bedrock of modern agriculture is the production, distribution, and application of the essential nutrients found in fertilizers. However, nitrogen fertilizer is currently made in coal- and gas-fired facilities located hundreds to thousands of miles away from farmers who need it. The $120B industry is responsible for as much as 6% of global CO2eq emissions. Nitricity Inc. has developed a new technology that produces fertilizer using air, water, and renewable electricity (e.g., solar). Growers will have access to a more reliable, low cost, and environmentally friendly fertilizer supply. We are actively growing our  team to help us turn this vision into a reality. . 

Position Description:

The Reactor Design Engineer will be part of Nitricity’s R&D engineering team working to develop megawatt-scale chemical production facilities. The primary responsibility will be the design and engineering of nitrogen fixation equipment with gas, liquid, and plasma-phase subsystems. This will entail working with a team of experts in chemical, mechanical, and electrical engineering to build and test our pilot and laboratory scale systems. The Reactor Design Engineer will report to Nitricity’s Chief Science officer and apply their engineering expertise to optimize Nitricity’s nitrogen fixation systems toward the development of an exceptionally efficient and reliable commercial product. In particular, we are looking for someone to help us understand the chemistry occurring in our plasma reactor so we can optimize the efficiency of the process.

Responsibilities:

• Mechanical design and engineering of nitrogen fixation reactor prototypes (CAD, thermal and flow modeling).
• Analysis of reaction networks, optimization of air chemistry in a plasma.
• Prepare test plans to validate the operation of the equipment. Develop spec sheets for subsystems.
• Develop best practices, routines and innovative solutions to improve production rates and quality of output. Provide process documentation, technical specifications, and operating instructions.
• Support Nitricity’s other engineering design, integration, building and upgrading efforts.
• Perform process simulations, risk assessments, and manage cost and time constraints.

Required and Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience developing innovative mechanical systems and processes.
• Experience with industrial plasma, fluid flow, chemical, and thermal management technologies.
• Demonstrated creative problem solving with engineering that has led to new product capabilities and better production efficiencies.
• Expertise with design and simulation software tools (Solidworks, flowsim, COMSOL, etc.).
• Mechanical engineering or similar degree (ME, ChemE, etc.).
• Work well in focused teams with multiple disciplines.
• Versatility to thrive in a start-up environment.
• Teamwork, communication and organizational skills.
• Enthusiasm for high-impact, hard tech solutions.

Compensation and Benefits*:

• $95,000/yr-$150,000/yr
• 3 Weeks of paid vacation
• 7 company holidays and 2 floating holidays
• Medical and Dental insurance
• 401k plan with matching
• Parental leave
• Commuter Benefits

*Benefits are subject to change over time and may require employment in CA to be eligible.

Nitricity Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, religion, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sex, genetic information, sexual orientation, military and veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. It also prohibits unlawful discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics, or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.