Process Development Engineer - Pyrolysis Test

About Charm

Our mission is to return the atmosphere to 280 ppm CO₂. We convert excess inedible biomass into carbon-rich bio-oil and inject it into underground storage for permanent carbon removal. At scale, we can use bio-oil to make fossil-free iron.

Our carbon removal efforts began in 2020 with initial purchases from customers like Stripe, Shopify, and Microsoft. Since then, we've scaled to thousands of tons of carbon removal, grown to over a hundred employees, and established three locations in San Francisco, Colorado, and Louisiana.

We're expanding our team of ambitious, creative, and hands-on problem solvers. We value psychological safety, collaboration, and continuous learning. We take calculated risks and treat mistakes as opportunities to improve. If you're excited about tackling big challenges, we encourage you to explore our company values.

Come help us reverse climate change. Gigatons or bust!

About the Role

We're looking for a Process Development Engineer to join our Pyrolysis Test Engineering team. Reporting to the Director of Pyrolysis, you'll help scale new chemical processes from laboratory and pilot-scale testing to commercial operation, ensuring they are efficient, safe, and cost-effective.

Working closely with engineers, scientists, and operations teams, you'll investigate scale-up challenges, evaluate process performance, improve product yields, and support the development of safe and reliable operating practices. You'll play an important role in translating experimental results into processes that can be successfully deployed at commercial scale.

The ideal candidate has experience with pilot plant operations and process scale-up, along with strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills. This role requires close collaboration across disciplines and the ability to clearly communicate technical findings to a range of stakeholders.

This is an opportunity to contribute to the development of novel chemical products and processes that support Charm's carbon removal mission. This role is based onsite in Fort Lupton, Colorado.

Responsibilities

• Test and iterate on next-generation Charm pyrolyzers to develop biomass conversion processes and produce bio-oil and biochar.
• Design experiments, conduct pilot plant trials, and troubleshoot process performance and scale-up challenges.
• Analyze process data using material and energy balances, and communicate findings through technical reports and presentations.
• Develop process engineering documentation, including Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs), Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), and Process Control Narratives (PCNs).
• Participate in process safety reviews, including Failure Mode and Effects Analyses (FMEAs) and Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) studies, before system testing and implementation of process improvements.
• Support our 24/7 operations through a rotating after-hours coverage schedule, totaling approximately 2-3 weeks per year.

You bring

• A bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience in process development, including at least 2 years working with pilot-scale test systems.
• A strong understanding of heat transfer, mass and energy balances, process controls, and process safety principles.
• Hands-on experience with pilot plant operations, process instrumentation (temperature, pressure, flow, and level sensors), troubleshooting, and rapid prototyping.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• The ability to work independently, prioritize effectively, and balance cost, timeline, and impact when making decisions.
• Excitement for scaling hardware and process technologies that can have a meaningful impact on climate change.

Bonus, if you bring

• An M.S. or Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience working with bio-oil, biochar, syngas, or other advanced thermochemical processes.
• Familiarity with industrial-scale process systems, equipment, and operations.

$90,000 - $135,000 a year

What We Offer

• Equity ownership through stock options
• 100% employee healthcare premiums covered
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with multiple plan options
• Employer-funded HSA contributions for eligible HDHP plans
• Traditional and Roth 401(k) with a 50% match on contributions up to 6%
• Paid leave, including parental and medical leave
• PPE and workwear allowances
• Annual professional development stipend
• Employee recognition programs that celebrate impactful work and team contributions
• Opportunities for internal growth, career development, and transition into climate from a range of industries and backgrounds

Visa Sponsorship Policy

Since we are a small startup, certain accommodations for visa sponsorship may not be within our capability. At this time, Charm Industrial is only sponsoring E3 and TN visas.

Our Commitment

Charm Industrial is an equal opportunity employer. We hire based on skills, experience, and passion for our mission. Climate challenges require a wide range of perspectives and expertise, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We're excited to grow our team with people who bring unique strengths and help us improve as a company.

At Charm, we may use AI-enabled tools to support certain aspects of the hiring process, including organizing candidate information and highlighting experience that may be relevant to a particular role. In a world where AI-assisted resumes, synthetic content, and deepfakes are increasingly common, these tools help our team navigate the process thoughtfully and efficiently. Every application and resume is reviewed by a member of our hiring team, and hiring decisions are made by people, not algorithms. Our recruiting process is designed to ensure candidates are evaluated fairly, consistently, and in alignment with our equal employment opportunity commitments. AI tools support our team's work, but they do not replace human judgment or determine hiring outcomes.