Project Engineer Downstream, Capital Projects

How you will contribute:

Plantible is developing the next generation of our commercial production facilities. The Downstream Project Engineer will own the engineering and field execution of the systems that receive harvested biomass and convert it into consistent high-quality products.

You will sit between Plantibles process experts and the people designing supplying and building our facilities. Your scope includes biomass preparation extraction separation filtration purification concentration drying powder handling packaging CIP and the process utilities and controls that support them.

You do not need to be the deepest expert in every unit operation. You do need enough technical depth to identify gaps challenge assumptions connect the right people and turn a developing process into systems we can procure build commission and operate.

What you will be working on:

Connect the Engineering

• Translate requirements from Plantibles Engineering R&D Operations Maintenance and Food Safety teams into clear scopes and deliverables for external engineering partners and vendors.
• Coordinate the disciplines required for your systems including process mechanical piping civil structural electrical controls utilities and facility infrastructure.
• Understand where systems interface make sure every interface has an owner and drive technical decisions to closure.
• Maintain engineering deliverables decisions dependencies risks and open items against the overall project schedule.
• Surface gaps early. Waiting on Engineering is not a project plan.

Develop the Facility

• Support FEL conceptual design FEED and detailed engineering for assigned systems and project packages.
• Coordinate development and review of Basis of Design documents equipment lists utility requirements layouts specifications drawings and other core project deliverables.
• Lead design reviews with Plantible subject-matter experts Operations and external engineers.
• Challenge designs for safety constructability operability maintainability hygienic design cost and unnecessary complexity.
• Translate lessons from Ranchito into engineering standards and repeatable design packages for future Plantible facilities.

Buy the Equipment

• Develop technical scopes and bid packages for equipment materials and engineered systems.
• Coordinate RFQs technical evaluations bid leveling vendor selection and technical alignment before purchase.
• Manage vendor drawings calculations data documentation and interfaces with the broader facility design.
• Track major equipment and materials from specification through fabrication FAT delivery installation and startup.
• Understand which decisions and long-lead packages are driving the project schedule and act before they become constraints.

Help Build It

• Serve as Plantibles engineering point of contact during construction for assigned systems and scopes.
• Coordinate RFIs submittals design clarifications field changes and vendor questions.
• Maintain a strong onsite presence during active installation: walk the work verify progress identify constraints and drive issues to resolution.
• Resolve conflicts between drawings equipment contractors and Plantible requirements without losing design intent.
• Support quality reviews mechanical completion punch lists system turnover and documentation closeout.

Make It Work

• Plan for commissioning and startup before construction is complete.
• Coordinate vendor startup requirements FATs SATs commissioning performance testing and operator training.
• Work alongside Operations and Maintenance to make sure systems are documented tested safe and ready to operate.
• Verify that assigned systems achieve required capacity performance quality and reliability.
• Capture problems and lessons learned and turn them into better standards for the next facility.

Downstream Systems You Will Own

• Biomass receipt storage conveyance maceration extraction and feed preparation from the defined upstream handoff point.
• Centrifugation and other solid-liquid separation systems.
• Microfiltration ultrafiltration diafiltration membrane concentration purification activated-carbon treatment and polishing systems.
• Process tanks sanitary pumps valves heat exchangers hygienic piping and clean-in-place systems.
• Drying powder handling product transfer and packaging systems.
• Chilled water steam or thermal systems compressed air RO and process water waste streams and other process utilities serving downstream operations.
• Process automation instrumentation controls recipes equipment integration and data requirements.
• Interfaces with upstream biomass delivery site utilities laboratories warehousing food safety maintenance and facility infrastructure.

What you bring to Plantible:

• Bachelors degree in Chemical Mechanical Process Bioengineering Food Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Typically 5-10 years supporting industrial capital projects in food ingredients biotechnology biochemical pharmaceutical fermentation or another hygienic process-manufacturing environment.
• Direct experience with several of the downstream unit operations listed above and a working understanding of how they interact as one process.
• Experience delivering process equipment through specification vendor selection design integration installation commissioning and startup.
• Strong understanding of sanitary process systems hygienic design CIP process utilities instrumentation controls and commissioning.
• Ability to read and challenge PFDs P&IDs equipment specifications layouts utility balances construction drawings controls documentation and vendor submittals.
• Highly organized and able to keep parallel design packages interfaces decisions and deadlines moving.
• Willingness to spend significant time onsite during construction commissioning and startup.

Preferred experience

• Owner-side project engineering or greenfield facility experience.
• Experience in alternative protein food ingredients biomass processing fermentation biotechnology or biochemical manufacturing.
• Hands-on experience with centrifuges membrane filtration purification concentration activated-carbon treatment drying powder handling sanitary piping or CIP.
• Experience with FAT SAT water runs performance testing process validation and operational handoff.
• Experience scaling an evolving process and converting lessons learned into repeatable standards.

Choose Plantible Foods

Joining Plantible means contributing to a sustainable future for all. We are a venture backed startup that is both spreading happiness amongst our employees and to current and future generations. We believe diversity creates uniqueness. Our team is composed of highly talented people with different interests and hobbies which makes for a rich working environment.

At Plantible we are continually working on our offerings to foster the best team. Check it out!

• Competitive health and wellness benefits
• Medical Dental and Vision Insurance
• Discretionary Unlimited PTO Program
• Paid Holidays
• 401k Program
• Career Stipend
• Career development and growth opportunities
• Working in a rapidly growing flexible and entrepreneurial environment
• Team building and company-wide events
• Financial support with your relocation if necessary ensuring a smooth transition
• And of course lots of beautiful land for outdoor activities!

Plantible Foods is an equal employment opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race creed color national origin age sex religion ancestry veteran status marital status gender identity sexual orientation national origin liability for military service or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal state or local law. If you are interested in learning the status of your application please note you will be contacted directly by the appropriate human resources contact person if you are selected for further consideration. Plantible Foods reserves the right to defer or close a vacancy at any time.

If you feel your skill set does not meet all listed qualifications for the role we still encourage you to apply. As we continue to grow our company we are seeking a range of candidates and would gladly consider you for other current or upcoming roles that may be a fit!

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Please note:

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