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Staff Process Engineer, Commissioning Startup

Sila
Alameda, California
Full Time
Posted November 6, 2025
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Job Description

The Staff Process Engineer at Sila is responsible for commissioning and startup of a critical chemical process in a new battery materials manufacturing plant, as well as contributing to the development of next-generation technology through process design, optimization, and collaboration with cross-disciplinary teams.

Key Responsibilities

  • Commission and start-up Sila's manufacturing plant for next-generation battery materials
  • Lead chemical process design for critical units in the manufacturing process
  • Collaborate with engineering, operations, and vendors to drive technical deliverables
  • Develop and implement process control schemes and design documents during plant startup
  • Drive process improvements and modifications for large-scale, first-of-a-kind plants
  • Develop basis of design, P&IDs, and FEED deliverables for new plant projects
  • Lead commissioning of new process units during startup, shutdowns, or upsets
  • Coordinate with R&D, material development, and pilot teams for scale-up implementation
  • Influence organizational teams to develop technical solutions and process optimizations

Requirements

  • B.S. or M.S. in Chemical Engineering
  • Minimum of 5 years of experience directly owning a high volume production line or in a design-to-commissioning role as a Production or Process Design Engineer for a chemical plant
  • Ability to visualize in great detail and have a first-principles understanding of an operating plant
  • Experience with process design of new chemical plant units or retrofits of existing units
  • Deep knowledge of basic controls schemes and familiarity with advanced control strategies
  • Extensive experience with daily and long-term process optimization and production constraints
  • Experience with safety critical instrumentation, safety relief, and operational alarms
  • Extensive risk management, management of change, and HAZOP experience
  • Years of experience creating, reading, and editing PFDs, P&IDs, and Operating Procedures
  • Ability to determine and solve for key parameters for process scale-up to commercial volumes
  • Have developed dozens of basis of design and project scope documents for new ideas or MOCs
  • Ability to visualize in great detail and have a first-principles understanding of an operating plant
  • Experience with process design of new chemical plant units or retrofits of existing units
  • Ability to balance day-to-day priorities with long-term deliverables
  • Experience leading commissioning of a new process unit during startup, shutdowns, or upsets
  • Ability to create and develop HMBs, P&IDs, and other FEED deliverables starting at concept for the next-generation plant
  • Experience collaborating with all engineering disciplines, operations, and third-party vendors to drive technical deliverables
  • Ability to develop and drive ideas through R&D, Material Development, and Pilot Test Teams for at-scale implementation
  • Strong communication skills enabling effective technical documentation and collaboration
  • Demonstrated ruthless prioritization in high-stress situations over long periods of time
  • Must be able to remain in a stationary position to operate a computer and other office machinery
  • Must wear personal protective equipment including hard hat, lab coat or coveralls, gloves, safety glasses, and safety shoes
  • Pass a respirator fit test and be able to wear respiratory protection periodically
  • Ability to move long distances and occasionally kneel or bend
  • Up to 75% travel for work at new production sites and third-party design offices during startup
  • Up to 10% travel during non-startup periods

Benefits & Perks

Compensation/salary range not specified
Work schedule not specified
Work environment perks include wearing personal protective equipment and ability to wear respiratory protection
Up to 75% travel for work at new production sites and third-party design offices during startup, up to 10% travel during non-startup periods

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