Materials and Reaction Engineer

About Ammobia

Ammobia is on a mission to revolutionize the ammonia industry. We are a seed-stage startup developing Haber Bosch 2.0 – a next-generation ammonia synthesis process enabling cost-effective, clean ammonia production. Our proprietary swing reactor system runs at 10x lower pressures and 4x higher conversions than the state of the art, enabling economical production at any plant scale or energy source.

Clean ammonia will support ammonia’s growing role in our decarbonized world, tackling some of the most difficult to abate sectors including chemicals, fertilizers, and heavy-duty transportation. We are supported and recognized by leading climate tech organizations including Starlight Ventures, the US Department of Energy, Collaborative Fund, Third Derivative, Forbes 30u30, and more.

Job Description

Ammobia is seeking an experienced Materials and Reaction Development Engineer to develop and optimize our proprietary catalyst and gas separation materials for use in reactive ammonia production processes. You will be a key scientist-engineer responsible for designing formed/shaped porous materials to enable low pressure ammonia production, including active material design and formed material structure design. You will span Ammobia’s Materials and Reaction Engineering workflows, and work with the full technical team of chemical, process, materials, and equipment engineers.

You have industrial expertise developing and scaling porous materials for reaction and sorption processes, including depth of knowledge in both materials science and chemical engineering application. You are a creative, data driven problem solver who works from first principles across fields. You have strong data and modeling skills, you enjoy fast paced, creative, and collaborative work; you work with a bias towards action and overcommunication; and you thrive with high levels of autonomy and ownership. 

There is significant opportunity to grow your role alongside the company.

Successful applicants will have most of the following qualifications.

• Design and optimize active catalysts, gas sorbents, and formed composite materials for use in low pressure ammonia production
• Tailor individual components and formed materials to Ammobia’s unique reactor and process, including optimization of morphology, thermal properties, and mechanical properties 
• Create mathematical/analytical models of material performance to determine target specifications and link ex-situ measurements to in-reactor performance
• Establish process-structure-property-performance relationships to map material properties and manufacturing to reactor performance
• Conduct and manage lab-scale experiments with advanced reactor systems and materials characterization systems
• Develop intellectual property across materials, process, and reactor development
• Initiate and manage relationships with materials suppliers, equipment vendors, and tolling manufacturers

• 3+ years’ experience in a relevant industrial setting
• Demonstrated expertise and hands on experience developing catalysts, adsorbents, absorbents, or similar materials for gas-solid processes
• Demonstrated expertise optimizing formed porous materials for gas-solid processes, maximizing reactivity and heat and mass transfer (eg, formed materials may include granules, extrudates, tablets, pellets, monoliths, or similar)

• Strong working knowledge of gas sorption, heterogeneous catalysis, gas phase heat and mass transfer, reaction engineering 
• Strong working knowledge of porous solid materials characterization as powders and pellets, such as BET, TGA, XRD, SEM, EDS, and similar
• Excellent data analysis skills and proficiency in Python
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Working knowledge and experience specifying and operating lab and bench scale reactor systems, breakthrough apparatus, and similar, especially custom hardware
• Self-motivated, proactive, and able to work both independently and collaboratively 
• Passion for sustainability and excitement about working at an early-stage start-up (prior startup experience strongly preferred)

• BS (MS+ preferred) in chemical engineering or similar
• Hands on experience installing and modifying manufacturing equipment
• Demonstrated team leadership experience in relevant area

Who we are

We are a small and passionate team of scientists and engineers. We value teamwork, accountability, open communication, and rapid iteration. We emphasize career growth, mutual feedback, and a fun and exciting working environment. Check out ammobia.co/careers for our full values statement and ammobia.co/team to learn more about us.

The position is full-time and in-person in San Francisco, CA. Compensation and job title will be commensurate with experience.