R&D Engineer
Ambercycle
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2023
About Us
Ambercycle is a material science company founded in 2015 to create a fashion industry without 'waste'. We're developing and scaling a breakthrough technology to manufacture yarns and fabrics from old clothes, without a sacrifice in quality, rather than from petroleum or new agriculture resources. Our apparel products avoid the use of new raw materials and go into the highest quality applications, exceeding the expectations of end customers with a fraction of the environmental footprint. Using our technology, we are fundamentally changing the fashion industry and building the infinite textile ecosystem. For more information, visit www.ambercycle.com
Who You Might Be
You've been building things and taking them apart your whole life. You are thrilled by the prospect of constructing things and watching them work and take great satisfaction in taking concepts into real-world solutions at massive scale, in fact you're wired to do so. You watch YouTube videos of people constructing plants, showcasing process equipment, and doing chemistry experiments. You like working with your hands and really understanding how things work in real life. Overcoming all obstacles to turn whiteboard sketches into breakthrough commercial realities is second nature to you, and you value your ability to get to the heart of an issue and advance a project.
You love efficiency but have a practical outlook on how to get things done and move a project forward. You are respected for your ability to 'make it happen', and people rally around you to turn visions into realities. You have the perfect mix of strategic, operational, analytical, and people skills. You are a clear, confident communicator who loves taking a complicated problem, deconstructing it, and finding + implementing solutions. You are a problem solver.
The Job
We are searching for an R&D Engineer who will lead the design and fabrication of Ambercycle’s process research systems. You will work in collaboration with the R&D, Engineering, and Technology teams to build bespoke research and pilot scale systems to study, improve, and optimize the Ambercycle process for advanced recycling of textile polymers. You will help design and run experiments on the research systems to debottleneck, further develop, and optimize various unit operations. You will commission, validate, and maintain process research systems made both in-house and with 3rd party vendors and contractors. This will include engagement with and oversight of equipment vendors, fabricators, and other 3rd parties. You will help translate your laboratory and pilot designs to full-scale commercial designs with the Engineering team, and vice versa. The ideal candidate for this role will be driven, confident, and will do what it takes to ensure the successful build and implementation of process systems. You will be involved with senior leaders to optimize and commercially realize our process for the conversion of end-of-life textile materials into brand new goods, as well as grow the portfolio of commercialized Ambercycle products.
Responsibilities
- Develop and fabricate lab and bench scale process research systems including electrical, structural, and plumbing.
- Ensure safe system design and operation, including adherence to ASME pressure vessel and piping code.
- Create design specifications and procure equipment within budget and expedited time frame.
- Work with outside shops and 3rd party vendors to custom fabricate equipment and parts.
- Fast-track engineering of custom skids and unit operations.
- Perform hands-on fabrication, benchmarking, and troubleshooting of components and parts.
- Work cross-departmentally with process engineering, research and development, and operations for HAZID and design reviews, task hazard analyses and integration planning.
- Commission and upgrade bench and pilot scale reaction and process systems, and ensure their repeatability.
- Collaborate with chemists and engineers to facilitate experimental validations and apparatus.
- Write SOPs for maintenance and operations.
- Troubleshoot and improve processes at the bench and pilot scale.
- Collaborate closely with R&D, Engineering, and Technology to identify and overcome process challenges and bottlenecks as well as implement new process designs and research systems.
- Link laboratory and pilot work with the development of commercial scale equipment and processes.
- Provide reports and track progress.
- Travel to company locations and facilities for meetings, training, special projects and information gathering (domestic and international).
Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering (required)
- 5+ years of process engineering (required); experience in a start-up environment (preferred)
- Proven Research Systems Engineer with a track record of success in design-build-test in a start-up company environment.
- Extremely hands-on and proficient with various tools.
- Successful experience with process research system design.
- Experience working with outside vendors on fabrication and equipment integration.
- Track record of solving difficult mechanical problems and linking research and development activities with successful real-world implementation.
- Strong mechanical aptitude and understanding of numerous metals (SS) and polymer materials.
- Strong background in solids handling and chemicals/polymers manufacturing unit operations.
- Strong background in computer aided drafting (CAD).
- Ability to work with R&D to develop experimental plans.
- Ability to work with R&D and pilot groups to validate and advance research process systems.
- Ability to effectively operate in a fast-paced, open environment.
- Must have an incredible enthusiasm for scaling a first-in-kind sustainable process, a strong desire to change the world, and passion for solving difficult engineering problems.
- Must take initiative and be hungry for technical excellence and project success.
- Innate desire to solve new and difficult problems.
- Ability to travel up to 30%, international travel may be required.
Benefits
- Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
- Flexible PTO
- 401(k)
- Free Healthy Snacks & Beverages
Ambercycle is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Ambercycle is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Are you interested in joining Ambercycle, but feel like you may not meet every single requirement of this role?
Research shows that women and other under-represented groups within STEM fields often hesitate to apply unless they tick all or most of the boxes of a role description. At Ambercycle, we're building a circular ecosystem that disrupts the fashion supply chain with first-of-a-kind technology at its core. We recognize the importance of having a diverse, inclusive, and authentic team to realize our goal of decarbonizing fashion.
If you share our passion for this goal, but are concerned that your experience may not align perfectly with the qualifications stated in our job posting, we strongly encourage you to apply anyway! You may be just the right candidate, either for this role - or for another upcoming role in our growing team.