Senior Process Engineer

About the Company

Aspen is a technology leader in sustainability and electrification solutions. The Company's aerogel technology enables its customers and partners to achieve their objectives around the global megatrends of resource efficiency, e-mobility, and clean energy. Aspen's PyroThin® products address thermal runaway challenges within the electric vehicle ("EV") market, while its Cryogel® and Pyrogel® products are valued by the world's largest energy infrastructure companies. Aspen's strategy is to partner with world-class industry leaders to leverage its Aerogel Technology Platform® into additional high-value markets. Aspen is headquartered in Northborough, Mass.

Values

At Aspen, our values reflect who we are and how we work both with each other and our customers, suppliers, and communities. They shape our interactions, guide our decisions, and inspire us to bring our best.

• We Do the Right Thing
• We are Problem Solvers
• We are Allies
• We Drive Forward

Responsibilities

• Lead technically transformational process change in manufacturing, partnering with R&D to develop next-generation manufacturing of aerogel composites.
• Partner with R&D and Plant Engineering to identify, develop, and execute new product and process improvements in safety, production capacity, yield, and cost reduction.
• Interpret product design requirements to determine feasibility, process steps, and cost to manufacture.
• Transfer new technologies, products, and manufacturing processes into the Company.
• Establish project goals and priorities by collaborating with Marketing and Operations.
• Support the successful introduction of new products and processes.
• Lead and/or execute experimental work to support scale-up activities and develop a robust commercial-scale aerogel manufacturing process from small-scale laboratory data.
• Analyze process and quality data to improve/troubleshoot the aerogel manufacturing process.
• Partner with R&D, Plant Engineering, and Manufacturing to support trial manufacturing runs.
• Coordinate and/or lead troubleshooting of aerogel manufacturing processes to determine root cause of failure modes.
• Develop and implement corrective actions to mitigate failure modes.
• Provide technical guidance, coaching, and training to Plant Engineering and Manufacturing.
• Lead or support project teams through developmental phases of engineering projects related to process equipment, including conceptual design of both process and equipment.
• Transfer design requirements to Plant Engineering for detailed design, equipment procurement, construction, installation, start-up, commissioning, validation, and qualification of facilities and/or equipment.
• Build upon lab and trial-generated best practices to establish and implement full-scale standards, documentation, and procedures for all new and existing products to ensure manufacturing capabilities.
• Adopt and follow Aspen’s core values of Safety, Quality, Integrity, Teamwork, Customer, and Innovation on both a personal and professional level.

Requirements

• Minimum 5+ years’ experience in process design and development (process engineering, technology evaluation and deployment, unit operation).
• BSME or BSChE is required, with appropriate experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably in a Chemical Processing operation.
• Broad knowledge of chemical process development, preferably with a focus on silica synthesis and modification. Alternatively, broad knowledge of coating, casting, web handling, and/or oven drying operations is required.
• Experience with pilot and high-volume manufacturing operations, and the process of transitioning new products/processes from lab to pilot and full commercial manufacturing.
• Hands-on experience with analytical method development.
• Hands-on lab or pilot plant experience running experiments.
• History of working in a manufacturing operations environment.
• Experience with research and analytic techniques.
• Ability to apply statistical analysis and/or practical experience to optimize process development activities.
• Innate intellectual curiosity and predisposition to leverage analytic reason, creativity, and judgment.
• Well-developed influencing skills – ability to inspire confidence and drive consensus.
• Ability to handle complex matters across multiple initiatives.
• Intellectual agility to deal effectively with strategic issues and operational details.
• Ability to effectively influence and motivate external and internal stakeholders.

Work Environment

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• Frequently required to stand, sit, and utilize hand and finger dexterity.
• Occasionally required to walk, climb, balance, bend, stoop, kneel, or crawl.
• Frequently works near moving mechanical parts, around fumes, airborne particles, or toxic chemicals.
• Occasionally exposed to extreme heat or cold (non-weather).
• Moderate noise level in the work environment.
• Must occasionally lift and/or move more than 10 pounds.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance.
• Tuition Reimbursement.
• Paid Holidays, Sick Time, and PTO.
• 401k Employer Match.
• Life and Disability Insurance.

Pay

Expected compensation: Between $130,000 and $150,000 USD/year based on experience.