Senior Process Engineer - R&D + Product Systems

About us 

PlasmaLeap Technologies is an Australian clean-chemicals company focused on transforming how essential fuels and fertilisers are produced. We develop modular plasma reactors powered by renewable electricity that use air and water as inputs, enabling low-emissions, distributed chemical production. 

Our technology is designed to address some of the hardest-to-abate sectors, including agriculture, energy, and transport by offering a scalable and commercially viable alternative to traditional, fossil-fuel-based processes. By decentralising production, we aim to improve supply chain resilience and support global food and energy security 

If you want to build deep tech that solves climate and food security in the same breath, and you want to do it fast, with urgency, ownership, and real execution, then you will fit right in. 

The opportunity 

We are looking for a Senior Process Engineer to own and drive the development of our core chemical process: from early concepts through to scalable, field-deployable systems. 

This is not a traditional plant design role. You will work at the intersection of chemistry, fluid systems, and hardware, translating process theory into compact, modular, productised systems. 

You will be expected to design, build, test, and iterate - working closely with mechanical, electrical, and plasma engineers to develop a robust and scalable process. . 

What you’ll do 

Process Design & Engineering

• Ensure process engineering design and documentation is consistent with study and project scope & objectives
• Develop and assist in development of the following:

-Process design criteria (PFCs)

-Process flow diagrams (PFDs)

-Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs)

-Process equipment sizing

-Heat and mass balances and models

• Interpret engineering drawings, documents, specifications and scopes

Safety, Control & Analysis

• Hazard and Operability Studies (HAZOP), layer of protection analysis (LOPA) and associated safety studies
• Control philosophies and tables
• Trade-off studies, operating cost estimates and high-level financial models

Project Delivery & Technical Expertise

• Provide process engineering expertise all the way through liquid gas absorption from conceptual design, front-end engineering and detailed design
• Resolve technical and design issues

Teamwork, Leadership & Execution

• Mentor other Process Engineers and Graduates within the team
• Work in collaboration with the broader team
• Capable of prioritizing and delivering work in a fast-moving environment
• Drive continuous improvement in process efficiency, robustness, and system performance

What we’re looking for (must-haves) 

• Strong experience in chemical/process engineering with hands-on experimental work  
• Proven ability to design and run real systems — not just simulations or theoretical models  
• Experience translating processes into practical hardware systems  
• Deep understanding of gas-liquid systems, reaction engineering, and mass transfer  
• Comfortable working in fast-paced R&D environments with rapid iteration cycles  
• Strong problem-solving ability across chemistry, fluids, and system integration  

Highly valued (nice-to-haves) 

• Experience with absorption columns (design, operation, troubleshooting)  
• Experience with nitric acid, NOx systems, or other corrosive chemical processes  
• Background in modular / productised chemical systems (vs only large plants)  
• Experience with pilot plants, scale-up, or field-deployed systems  
• Familiarity with process simulation tools, but with strong experimental grounding  
• Understanding of pressure drop, blower/pump selection, and real-world fluid systems  

What success looks like in this role 

• Process concepts are quickly validated through real experiments  
• Absorption and conversion efficiency improves measurably over time  
• Systems become more compact, efficient, and reliable with each iteration  
• Clear understanding of operating limits and failure modes  
• Process design integrates cleanly into scalable product architecture  

Why you should join PlasmaLeap Technologies 

We Move Fast – Build, test, and learn outside your comfort zone alongside curious, driven teammates  We Make an Impact – Work on meaningful challenges that decarbonise industry and improve global food security  We’re Getting Recognised – Backed by world-class investors and gaining global traction  We Own It – High ownership, low bureaucracy, real engineering  We Test What Matters – Real systems, real conditions, real validation  We Reward Talent – Competitive salary, equity, and support for growth