Job Description

The world’s biggest breakthroughs often die in the gap between invention and implementation.

A breakthrough material that could decarbonise manufacturing.
A process that could secure critical mineral supply chains.
A chemical innovation that could transform energy storage.

On paper, they’re flawless. In reality, most never make it past the lab bench. The leap from promising research to full-scale commercial production is where ambition meets hard reality — technical risk, economic feasibility, and the messy unpredictability of scaling up.

This team exists to close that gap.

They work at the intersection of science, engineering, and commercial strategy — taking first-of-a-kind technologies from whiteboards and prototypes to fully functioning pilot plants.

They stress-test processes, model economics, source equipment from around the world, and stand side-by-side with fabricators, installers, and commissioning crews to make sure everything works exactly as it should.

And they need a Process Engineer who thrives on that challenge.

Here, you’ll design processes that have never existed before. You’ll prepare and refine BFDs, PFDs, and P&IDs. You’ll run material and energy balances, size equipment, and model production costs until the numbers make sense not just technically, but commercially.

In this role, you will:

• Lead the design of first-of-a-kind and pilot-scale systems, integrating scale-up considerations from the outset.

• Prepare engineering deliverables including block flow diagrams, process flow diagrams, piping and instrumentation diagrams, equipment lists, and preliminary layouts.

• Perform techno-economic evaluations, iterating mass and energy balances, sizing equipment, and estimating both capital and operating costs.

• Provide strategic input into go/no-go decisions using robust technical and commercial assessments.

• Manage procurement of process and mechanical equipment — locally and internationally — ensuring fit for purpose and on time delivery.

• Be the on-the-ground technical lead during fabrication, installation, commissioning, and troubleshooting of lab and pilot-scale plants.

• Identify technical, commercial, and safety risks — and create mitigation strategies before they become roadblocks.

• Collaborate with scientists, engineers, and business strategists to build commercialisation roadmaps and advancement strategies for emerging technologies.

You’ll be a great fit if you have:

• A research-based degree (Honours, Masters, PhD) in chemical engineering, or equivalent on-the-job expertise.

• At least 2 years’ relevant experience in process engineering, ideally working on novel or first-of-a-kind systems. Though we're also open to more experienced profiles. 

• Proven experience with techno-economic evaluations and cost estimation.

• Hands-on involvement in pilot plant or demonstration-scale design, build, and commissioning.

• Deep understanding of process design principles, risk-based decision-making, and scale-up challenges.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate technical detail for commercial audiences.

• The adaptability and resilience to work in environments where priorities shift quickly and the outcome is never guaranteed.

This is a rare chance to see your work go from concept to commercial reality — and to know that without your input, it might never have left the lab at all.

Reach out to Thaís on thais@theonset.com.au