Jobs in our community

Find your next role in helping to solve humanity’s most pressing challenges.

Pilot Plant Operator I (Temp to Perm)

Air Protein

Air Protein

San Leandro, CA, USA
Posted on Thursday, March 28, 2024
This is a Non-Exempt – Temp to Permanent position based in our San Leandro, CA office. This position reports to the Manager of Pilot Plant Operations of the Company.
Work Schedule
On-call support for our Pilot Plant Operating team. This role will be temporary, with the opportunity to become permanent after 90 days of employment. Minimum 20 per week and benefits-eligible.
We’re currently seeking an On-Call Pilot Plant Operator to join our extraordinary team.
Do you have a powerful drive for results?
Do you have experience handling hazardous chemicals and hydrogen gas?
Are you experienced in working in a GMP, pharmaceutical, and/or food and beverage environment?
Do you love creating a culture of safety on your teams?
If you answered yes to these questions, then WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
What we are looking for in you
The On-Call Pilot Plant Operator will be responsible for ensuring that all operations tasks required for the pilot plant are performed safely and according to the relevant operating procedures. You will engage in various planned plant activities, including plant start-up, equipment maintenance, and plant turnarounds. In this role, you will be a key member in the successful commissioning, operation, and improvement of the Air Protein pilot plant.
This job requires that the employee has the ability to perform essential physical requirements, therefore, employment will be contingent upon passing a pre-employment physical medical exam at an off-site company, Cencerta. The pre-employment physical or Human Performance Evaluation (HPE) is customized to the specific responsibilities of the job and only screens for skills that are needed on a regular basis. The intention is to protect you from potentially getting injured on the job.

What you will be doing:

  • Responsible for ensuring that all operations tasks required for the pilot plant are performed safely and according to the relevant operating procedures. You will engage in various planned plant activities, including plant start up, equipment maintenance, and plant turnarounds. In this role, you will be a key member in the successful commissioning new equipment, operation, and improvement of the Air Protein pilot plant.
  • Monitor equipment and instruments, including flow meters and control valves.
  • Understanding all safety protocols and be able to take all actions to prevent accidents or injuries.
  • Manipulate the process using controls, and input devices to operate the manual and automatic equipment and instruments.
  • Take samples and perform tests to ensure the process and product meets specifications.
  • Learn and respond to control equipment and processes in emergency situations and follow all instructions from supervisory staff.
  • Examine equipment daily and make entry to equipment log.
  • Write Safe Work Permits and perform LOTO when necessary
  • Understanding Hazop procedures, wearing required PPE including and not limited to Coverals, leather shoes, safety glasses, beard and hair nets. Also, certified to wear full face respirator.
  • On a quarterly basis:
  • Bioreactor Room:
  • wipe, wash down all wall-mounted pipes, meters, etc.
  • Wipe, wash down all walls & door frame surfaces
  • Main Room (Pilot Plant Box)
  • Wipe, wash down all wall-mounted pipes, meters, etc.
  • Wipe/wash down all walls and door frame surfaces
  • Wipe down only - CIP Motors, pumps and meters
  • Wipe down only - CIP tank exterior and frame
  • Wipe down only - CIP Tank Exterior & Frame
  • Rinse and Flush the CIP Waste tank interior
  • Wipe down and wash down the CIP Waste tank Exterior and Frame (Plastic Pallet)
  • Wipe, and wash down all walls and door frame surfaces
  • Bi-annually
  • Bioreactor Room
  • Wipe down and vacuum ceiling & Overhead structures
  • Main Room (Pilot Plant-Box)
  • Wipe down/vacuum ceiling & overhead structures

What you must have:

  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Experience working in a manufacturing plant, GMP, pharmaceutical, and/or food and beverage environment, preferred
  • Certified to wear a full face respirator. Will be sponsored by Air Protein, if not certified at time of employment.

What you should have:

  • Experience working around loud noises and various temperatures both indoors and outdoors
  • Ability to climb different types of ladders and work in small, tight areas of the plant
  • Experience working around hazardous gasses and chemicals
  • Basic skills with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
  • Basic computer skills
  • Aptitude for mechanics including but not limited to, rebuild pumps, valves, take apart check valves, etc.
  • Troubleshooting experience, including but not limited to:
  • For example: if the pressure goes up on a gauge what would be your course of action or if a pump fails what is your course of action.
  • Strong leadership in safety, and demonstrated ability to comply with safety and quality regulations
  • Comfortable wearing required PPE, including but not limited to cover-alls, leather shoes, safety glasses, beard, and hair nets.
  • Understand hazard and operability study procedures

Qualities:

  • Honest and have integrity
  • Proactive to get work done
  • Can stay calm under pressure
  • Curious and eager to learn
  • Good Listening skills
  • Safety First mentality
  • Great work ethic
  • A Mechanical aptitude

Check us out in the media, news, and in the community:

#AirProtein #PilotPlantOperator #Biotech #Pharma #cGMP #GMP
Benefits & Perks
In addition to the chance to work with a world-class team and cutting-edge technology to help combat climate change and address the impending food crisis, Air Protein employees also enjoy competitive benefits. We offer Flexible PTO, parental leave, a 401(k) match, and compensation plans that include employee equity.
Air Protein invests in employee development, and the company culture is shaped by shared values:
- Protect people & the planet
- Play as a team and have a growth mindset
- Do what you say you will do
- Be the change you seek
- Create a culture of belonging
Additional Benefits & Perks
- Competitive Health Benefits, including ancillary benefits and HSA/FSA programs
- Paid Holidays
- Stocked kitchen with snacks and drinks
- Fun -and useful- swag
- Weekly Brown Bag - All-Hands Meetings
Air Protein is an equal-opportunity employer
At Air Protein, we are committed to providing equal opportunities. Because we want the absolute best people, we enthusiastically invite people of every race, color, orientation, age, gender, origin, and ability – or any other status protected by law – to apply to join our team. Research has shown that women and people from marginalized groups may not apply for a role if they aren't a 100% match. Please don't hold back. If you think you will excel in this role, but perhaps you don’t tick every box, we'd appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
About Air Protein
Air Protein is a modern food company, crafting air-based food ingredients to feed us more sustainably, helping to renew the planet’s resources and eliminating the compromise between nutrition, taste, and climate impact. Using novel technology inspired by NASA, we convert elements found in the air around us into nutritious, protein ingredients using postbiotic cultures, then incorporate the ingredients into a broad range of food recipe formulations that cross the grocery store. It’s where cutting-edge science meets bold ambition to reinvent the way we eat.
Join our team of passionate scientists, engineers, and business leaders working to transform the future of food with solutions we never thought possible, creating food ingredients that are delicious and more sustainable. Using no arable land and very little water, Air Protein produces a highly nutritious protein ingredient that is free from pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, or hormones.
In addition to the chance to work with cutting-edge technology to help combat climate change and our planet’s impending food crisis, Air Protein employees also enjoy competitive benefits, total compensation plans, and a collaborative company culture. If you join us on this relentless pursuit for more, changing the world will soon feel as natural as taking a breath.
Air Protein is funded by ADM, a world leader in fermentation technology, GV (formerly Google Ventures), and Barclays, one of the world’s leading financial institutions.
Check us out in the media, news, and in the community: