Chemical Process Engineer

Unclassified - Westborough, MA

Full-time

Westborough, MA

About the position

Ascend Elements is a fast-growing organization that is revolutionizing the production of lithium-ion battery materials for electric vehicles. Recognized as a climate technology leader, the company elevates the value of recycled elements and engineers sustainable battery materials to support the global clean-energy transition. The company's patented Hydro-to-Cathode™ direct precursor synthesis technology produces new, sustainable cathode materials from spent lithium-ion batteries more efficiently than traditional methods, resulting in improved performance and lower carbon emissions. Ascend Elements is taking sustainability in the lithium-ion battery industry to a higher level. We are currently hiring a Chemical Process Engineer to join our team! You will be responsible for leading front end engineering projects focused on the chemical conversion of spent EV batteries and battery manufacturing plant waste into high quality battery anode and cathode powders for use in new batteries. This position will be based out of our current locations: Westborough, MA, Covington, GA or Hopkinsville, KY or be remote with up to 50% travel.

Responsibilities

• Lead front end engineering projects focused on the chemical conversion of spent EV batteries and battery manufacturing plant waste into high quality battery anode and cathode powders.
• Serve as the technical leader of a process or utility system from conceptual stage through performance testing.
• Lead conceptual studies and create equipment technical specifications.
• Qualify and select manufacturing vendors, review and approve equipment design/build.
• Attend Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) and support installation.
• Lead commissioning and site acceptance tests (SAT) and support process optimization.
• Develop process flow, equipment list, equipment layout, utility matrix, and P&IDs for manufacturing processes required for production of new battery raw materials.
• Work with R&D team to develop effective and efficient scaling strategies to bring new products and processes to pilot and production scale.
• Support the production plant's technical staff to meet plant metrics with robust processes and quality systems based on the APQP tool kit.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical or applicable engineering field; advanced degree is a plus.
• 5+ years of process engineering experience with chemical or advanced materials technologies, including 3+ years of field experience.
• Direct experience in battery materials synthesis (precursor cathode material), chemical precipitation reactions, filtration, or evaporation is a plus.
• Knowledge of and hands-on experience using APQP tools including FMEA, SPC, and design and process validation as well as Lean and 6 Sigma tools.
• Experienced user of the capital equipment acquisition process including technical specification generation, supplier identification and assessment, equipment build tracking, factory and site acceptance testing, installation, commissioning, and ramping to metrics.
• Hands-on experience during commissioning (water run, chemical run, sequence testing) is a must.
• Effective project management for >$1M capital equipment projects.
• Experience, judgement, and technical knowledge to drive data-based decisions.
• Knowledge and experience base in process design and equipment selection for performance chemicals and materials and the associated facility support systems.
• Skilled user of MS office tools including Word, EXCEL, Outlook, Project; AutoCAD, SolidWorks, SYSCAD, OLI, ASPEN competency is a plus.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally.