Senior Process Engineer

RCM Technologies, Inc. is seeking a highly experienced process engineering leader to drive technical excellence and project delivery across modular systems and ethanol plants. The role focuses on process design, optimization, and field engagement, requiring on-site assessments and the development of engineering solutions for operational improvements.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as senior technical authority on:
• Distillation & separations
• Heat integration / preheat trains
• Tower internals and mass transfer equipment
• Lead development of:
• Process simulations (Aspen, Pro/II, ChemCAD)
• PFDs / P&IDs / heat & material balances
• Equipment design and datasheets
• Provide expert guidance on revamps, debottlenecking, and grassroots design
• Ensure engineering solutions are practical, cost-effective, and constructible
• Lead and personally execute on-site field assessments at ethanol production facilities
• Collect and validate real-time operating data, including:
• Pressure profiles
• Temperature surveys
• Flow rates and compositions
• Perform unit-level diagnostics across:
• Distillation systems (beer column, rectifier, side strippers)
• Dehydration systems (molecular sieves)
• Evaporation systems (multi-effect evaporators, syrup concentration)
• Conduct plant walkdowns and operator interviews to understand true operating conditions
• Develop baseline simulation models calibrated with field data
• Identify and quantify:
• Hydraulic bottlenecks
• Heat transfer limitations
• Control and operability issues
• Generate actionable debottlenecking solutions, including:
• Tower internals upgrades
• Heat integration improvements
• Equipment modifications or revamps
• Translate findings into:
• Process Design Packages (PDPs)
• Revamp scopes and detailed engineering deliverables
• Support implementation and startup to ensure measurable performance improvements
• Lead projects from concept, design to execution and startup
• Ensure alignment between:
• Engineering deliverables
• Fabrication and installation
• Field conditions and constraints
• Serve as technical lead on key projects ($1MM–$10MM+)
• Drive:
• Technical quality
• Schedule adherence
• Scope clarity and risk mitigation
• Lead and mentor a team of:
• Process engineers
• Design engineers
• Build internal capabilities in:
• Ethanol process systems
• Field data collection and validation
• Simulation-driven de-bottlenecking
• Train engineers in:
• Field troubleshooting techniques
• Translating plant data into actionable engineering solutions
• Support development and refinement of:
• Modular distillation systems
• Separation and heat transfer solutions
• Revamp and optimization methodologies
• Standardize engineering approaches and tools for repeatable, high-quality execution
• Collaborate with fabrication and operations teams to improve design for manufacturability and installation

Requirements:

• B.S. in Engineering (required)
• 15+ years experience in: Process engineering (distillation/separations), Plant operations support, revamps, or project engineering
• Demonstrated hands-on field experience, including: Pressure and temperature surveys, Real-time data collection and validation, On-site troubleshooting and test runs
• Deep expertise in: Distillation, fractionation, and mass transfer, Heat exchangers and thermal systems
• Ethanol plant systems (distillation, dehydration, evaporation strongly preferred)
• Proficiency in: Process simulation tools (Aspen, PRO/II, ChemCAD), Developing heat & material balances and equipment designs
• B.S. in Chemical or Process Engineering
• Direct experience with ethanol plant debottlenecking and optimization
• Experience executing revamp projects driven by field data
• Strong understanding of: Tower internals and hydraulics, Heat integration and energy optimization
• Ability to independently perform: Site walkdowns, Data reconciliation and model validation
• Experience with modular system design and implementation