Lead Process Engineer-Hertha Metals

About Hertha Metals, Inc.

At Hertha Metals, our unwavering commitment is to revolutionize the heavy industry by embracing technologies that significantly decrease carbon emissions and uplift humanity. While the global steel sector plays a crucial role in providing secure and resilient infrastructure for society, it is also responsible for 10% of worldwide CO2 emissions. Hertha Metals envisions a future that breaks away from the traditional coal-based iron and steelmaking practices of the past three centuries. Our innovative steel manufacturing process utilizes well-established chemistry to dramatically reduce the environmental impact of steel production, all while offering economic advantages to the industry.

If you aspire to be at the forefront of pioneering efforts at Hertha, this is the perfect moment to join us. While we are still in the early stages (albeit well-funded), you have the unique opportunity to play a vital role in transforming the steel sector and actively contribute to the establishment of Hertha.

Lead Process Engineer

Hertha Metals is scaling up its revolutionary iron smelting technology. We are seeking a hands-on and experienced Senior Professional to help move our technology from the laboratory to Pilot Scale.  As part of the Research Team, you will use your steel making expertise, fundamentals of primary metallurgy along with your engineering and project management skills to help scale Hertha’s technology. You must enjoy working in a fast-paced startup environment where creativity, speed, initiative and cross-functional teamwork are required to succeed.  This position reports to the CEO initially, and eventually to the VP of Engineering. 

Key Responsibilities

To be successful in this role, a candidate must have a deep understanding of primary metallurgy and be able to straddle the line between research and development, and operations.  The Lead Process Engineer will play a vital role in analyzing and designing high-temperature process equipment for steelmaking. Additional responsibilities for this role include:

•  Review the Technology Roadmap with the Research and Engineering Teams to map knowledge gaps in our scaling plan.  This may also include helping to develop DOEs, review and vet experimental data, and review relevant literature in an effort to fill these gaps.

• Work closely with the vendors during equipment installation to gain a functional understanding of its operation.  This will require developing/reviewing safety protocols, job descriptions, team training, etc.

• Ensure the pilot scale furnace is properly instrumented to provide a wide range of process data that will be used to help define how our technology can be scaled by working with the equipment suppliers and other members of the Hertha team.

• Collaborate with the Operations and Research Teams on the experimental plan for the Pilot Scale furnaces, ensuring safe scale-up.

• Establish process flows, process recipes, work standards and points of quality assurance to ensure predictable throughput and quality.

• Have ownership over the design of the entire Hertha steelmaking process, from iron ore to steel 

Requirements:

• BS or higher in a technical discipline, with a preference for Pyrometallurgy, Metallurgy, or Materials Science,

• 12+ years of relevant process engineering with in-depth knowledge of extractive metallurgy processes and commissioning new equipment.  Experience managing a steel making operation and personnel is desirable.

• Experience in new plant engineering or plant process engineering with a focus on plant operations/startups

• Candidate must possess the skill to make well-balanced judgments by considering factors such as functionality, dependability, initial investment, and ongoing expenses

• The ability to understand complex interactions between feedstocks, upstream and downstream processes highly desirable.

• Strong analytical skills with ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions and implement sustainable improvements.

• Ability to clearly communicate and present status, action, recommendations, and other technical information at all levels. 

• Capacity to build strong relationships with and positively influence equipment vendors.