Senior Engineer

Senior Engineer (Chemical/Mechanical/Energy) for Project Management & Technology Development

Overview
Electrochaea was founded in 2010 as a spin-off company from the world-renowned University of Chicago. The company is backed by several high-profile investors and currently pursuing an ambitious technology de-risking and scale-up plan. For our technology development work in Europe, we are looking for an experienced engineer to take the technical lead in our next demonstration project in Copenhagen (Denmark).

Electrochaea is developing a disruptive new technology for grid scale energy storage known as power-to-gas. The core of the technology is a proprietary biocatalyst – an adapted strain of methanogenic archaea, a single-celled anaerobic microorganism – which efficiently converts hydrogen and carbon dioxide into pipeline-grade methane for direct injection into the existing natural gas grid. We plan to commercialize this technology in markets with high penetration of wind and solar energy (Denmark, Germany, UK, etc.), where the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources leads to prolonged periods of excess electricity production. Low-cost and stranded electricity can be stored as methane in the existing gas infrastructure and be used flexibly for power production, in transportation and industrial processes, and for long-distance energy transmission via gas pipelines.

Our last technology demonstration project operated at pre-commercial scale and was sited at Aarhus University’s Biogas Research Center in Foulum, Denmark. It was partially funded by the Danish Energy Agency (EUDP) and supported by E.ON, NEAS Energy, Erdgas Zürich, and EWZ.

For our next demonstration project (entitled “BioCat”), we plan to design, engineer, construct, and operate a 1-MW power-to-gas facility at the wastewater treatment plant Avedøre south of Copenhagen, Denmark. The purpose of the project is to demonstrate the technology’s capability to produce pipeline-grade methane, recycle the by-products oxygen and heat in the wastewater operations, and deliver frequency regulation services to the power grid. The project has an overall budget of DKK 50 million (€6.7 million) and is receiving substantial grant support from the Danish power and gas grid operator Energinet.dk (also see: http://goo.gl/YXkaNZ). Consortium partners include Hydrogenics Europe, BIOFOS, AUDI, NEAS Energy, HMN Gashandel, and Insero Business Services.

Description of Position
The successful applicant will provide engineering and project management support for our technology commercialization effort, including project management at our BioCat demonstration project in Copenhagen.  The mature and self-motivating individual will report to the CEO and focus on the following areas:

Project Engineering

• Develop process flow diagrams and initial P&IDs and oversee operations tie-in plans and procedures
• Develop contracting strategy and engineering guides, lead third-party engineering firm selection, and oversee third-party engineering activities
• Develop maintenance and safety plans and lead safety, health, and environmental reviews
• Lead bid and selection process for contractors and suppliers
• Lead construction to operations turnover transition, commissioning, acceptance/performance test
• Monitor field construction progress and address design issues
• Assist operations on process start-up
• Establish and manage maintenance agreements and maintenance work performance
• Train and oversee operations technical staff on BioCat project

Operations

• Coordinate with BioCat project manager to define and plan operations tests
• Oversee routine maintenance protocols
• Monitor mechanical equipment performance and identify and implement performance improvements  
• Provide technical troubleshooting support for operations
• Support data acquisition, analysis, evaluation, and presentation
• Develop performance metrics for technical/financial analysis and monitor process operations performance

General

• Serve on the BioCat project oversight team under direction of the project manager
• Provide engineering support to research, development and other project implementation teams
• Present information to potential investors and technical conferences
• Develop intellectual property and know how

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications and capabilities:

• B.S. in engineering (chemical, energy, mechanical or a related discipline) and appropriate industrial or professional experience
• Strong background in continuous process operations (refining, chemicals, gas, pipeline, or exploration and production), including process plant support experience
• Strong record of project engineering accomplishments (funding through start-up and operation)
• Demonstrated leadership capability
• Familiarity with European Union engineering standards
• Demonstration of performance in safety, health, and environmental management
• Participation in process hazard operations reviews
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience in writing operating procedures
• Strong mechanical aptitude

Minimum requirements for the position will include:

• Fluency in written and spoken English; Danish is a plus
• Ability to communicate effectively with multiple audiences and difference levels of the organization
• Ability to develop and work within a budget
• Track record of interacting creatively, collaboratively, and productively with other disciplines

Additional details and requirements:

• Salary will be commensurate with experience and capability and may include stock options
• Starting time is projected for June/July 2014

Application Process

Please send your application to jobs@electrochaea.com along with a brief statement of your interest in this position, availability, and resume.  Names and contact information for three references will be requested following an initial successful interview.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.