Director of Equipment Design

WHO YOU ARE

You are an experienced leader of teams that develop chemical processing, semiconductor, or similar equipment, on time and within budget. You are capable of delivering multiple projects in parallel, experienced in all phases of design from early concept through validation and handoff. You demonstrate a structured design and evaluation process, and a consistent track record of success with design and safety standards, to develop equipment that not only meets performance requirements, but safety, reliability and maintainability requirements as well. You develop a strong and highly-engaged team, soliciting input and debate from all levels in the organization, setting clear standards for work quality, and being a transparent decision-maker.

Responsibilities and duties

• Provide inspirational leadership for a team of engineers developing Sila’s next-generation, first-of-a-kind materials processing equipment.
• Drive the team to identify and de-risk key technical challenges. Collaborate with suppliers to design, develop, validate and deploy equipment while also gathering performance data and continually improving reliability and maintainability
• Review and approve key design process work: P&ID, HAZID/HAZOPS, flow and reaction simulations, design verification, factory/site acceptance test plans, and other test plans.
• Work collaboratively with your team to support existing tools; support your team in deep troubleshooting and use issues as opportunities for continual improvement.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with peers and colleagues in Research, Process Development, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Safety to develop robust solutions for manufacturing Sila’s product at low cost and with high quality.
• Create opportunities for staff career growth, identify top performers and develop their careers.

Knowledge and skill requirements

• Track record of successfully leading teams that build, deploy, and support manufacturing equipment involving technical risk and high uptime requirements is required. This includes developing strategies for risk reduction, setting key achievements and metrics, monitoring progress, and continually improving engineering work quality.
• Experience developing equipment for bulk processing of powders, distillation/separation, or high-temperature chemical reactors is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of industrial and chemical processing equipment standards and safety standards is a plus.
• Experience engaging with equipment vendors, from request-for-proposals to site acceptance testing and deployment, is required.
• Experience balancing stakeholder guidance from process engineering, R&D, finance and operations teams in setting tool requirements is highly desirable.
• 10+ years of industry experience is required. Advanced degree in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering or related field preferred.
• Strength and breadth in engineering fundamentals (heat and mass transfer, structures, and materials) is preferred.
• Essential understanding of equipment controls (PLC’s, HMI’s) preferred.

Physical demands and working conditions

• Pass a respirator fit test and be able to wear respiratory protection on a periodic basis
• Wear personal protective equipment including, but not limited to, a lab coat, gloves, safety glasses, and steel toe safety shoes
• Move long distances (such as from building to building) and can conduct manual inspections and audits of equipment personally if necessary.
• Can travel both domestically and internationally up to 25% of the time