VP, Technology (Process Engineering)
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Job Description
We have been exclusively retained by a venture-backed industrial technology company that is redefining how steel is made, to identify a Vice President of Technology to support them in the next phase of company growth. The organization has developed a first-of-its-kind, single-step metalmaking process that dramatically reduces emissions and production costs while improving scalability and product quality. Having successfully operated the world’s largest pilot system of its kind, the company is now transitioning from proof-of-concept into early-stage commercial deployment.
The Vice President of Technology role is an important part of this next phase. This is a hands-on, execution-oriented technology leadership position focused on real-world technology development and scale-up, not an academic or purely advisory role. The person in this seat will work closely with executive leadership to help guide technical direction while partnering side by side with engineering, operations, R&D, and safety teams as the company moves from pilot operations toward commercial deployment.
This is a direct-hire leadership role based at the company’s headquarters and operating facilities in the greater Houston area.
The Role You’ll Play
The Vice President of Technology will be responsible for supporting technology development and technical execution across R&D, engineering, and operations, with a primary focus on advancing and scaling a first-of-kind ironmaking process from pilot operations toward commercial deployment. This role requires deep technical credibility, comfort operating in plant environments, and the ability to move between strategic support and hands-on problem solving.
Key responsibilities include:
Supporting the development and execution of technology strategy in alignment with company objectives
Partnering with R&D, engineering, and operations teams to drive technical progress and resolve challenges
Contributing to pilot plant performance analysis, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement efforts
Providing technical input on scale-up activities, including early-stage commercial design considerations
Collaborating with safety and operations teams to promote safe, stable, and reliable plant performance
Assisting in identifying technical risks, gaps, and opportunities for optimization
Supporting cross-functional communication to ensure alignment across teams and initiatives
Spending time in and around plant operations to observe performance, support troubleshooting, and stay closely connected to real-world system behavior
Background Profile
The ideal candidate is a technically rigorous, execution-driven leader with deep experience in industrial process technology and scale-up. This person brings credibility on the plant floor, strong engineering judgment, and the ability to contribute meaningfully in evolving, fast-moving technical environments.
Required experience and qualifications include:
10+ years of experience in heavy industry, manufacturing, energy, metals, or related industrial environments
Strong foundation in process fundamentals, including heat and mass transfer and thermodynamics
Experience contributing to the scale-up of pilot or first-of-kind technologies
Hands-on experience supporting commissioning, startup, or optimization of industrial systems
Comfort working directly in plant environments and collaborating closely with operations teams
Strong technical judgment and problem-solving skills
Experience working cross-functionally with engineering, operations, and leadership teams
Bachelor’s degree or higher in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, Metallurgical Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline
Ability to translate technical concepts into practical, operable solutions
Preferred or highly valued experience includes:
Prior experience in a startup or high-growth industrial technology company
Exposure to steelmaking, ironmaking, aluminum, or adjacent metallurgical processes
Experience interpreting modeling, simulation, or engineering analyses and applying insights to practical improvements
Working knowledge of industrial instrumentation and control systems
Ability to identify risks and challenges associated with scaling first-of-kind technologies
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