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Job Description
About the Company We are an active, growing energy and gas purification company listed on a UK stock exchange. Unlike standard oil and gas firms, our primary portfolio focus is the exploration, development, and purification of high-value industrial gases, specifically focussing on Helium (He). With an ambitious drilling and infrastructure expansion program underway across our US asset base, we are rapidly scaling our raw gas purification architectures to meet commercial supply demands. We operate a highly efficient team of self-sufficient field professionals and are looking for a dedicated engineer to execute critical technical milestones under our US operational leadership.
The Opportunity:
Launch, Optimize and Scale We are seeking a capable, analytical Process / Chemical Engineer to manage our gas purification and long-term plant engineering requirements. Phase 1 (The Immediate Challenge): We have a specialized Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) gas separation asset that was recently re-built. The immediate focus will be to support the operation of the physical asset, analyze fluid dynamics, calculate gas velocity limits and bed height matrices, verify adsorption/desorption cycle profiles, and manage process logic and valve sequencing. The asset needs to be regularly tuned and performance-tested to our specific gas composition. Phase 2 (Long-term Scaling and Expansion): This role is not limited to a single fine-tuning and commissioning project. With our active drilling schedule continuously bringing new wellhead streams online, we are looking for a long-term custodian of our purification systems. This part of the role requires less intensive on-site time and involves leading engineering efforts to continuously manage, fine-tune and troubleshoot our operational systems; design and implement new system components to increase final helium purification yields and recovery rates; and architect future system expansions to handle increasing gas flows with differing gas compositions. You will work closely with the VP of Operations to align on process goals, and take daily operational instruction from our highly capable Site Manager, who currently handles all physical fabrication, welding, and mechanical valve installations.
Key Responsibilities Process Audit & Diagnosis:
Conduct ongoing assessments of the existing PSA system's physical process design, analyzing fluid kinetics, gas velocity limits, and cycle profiles to identify and eliminate systemic bottlenecks.
Logic and Sequence Optimization:
Manage existing automation and valve sequencing layouts. Optimise timing sequences for maximum helium purity and recovery yields.
Hands-on Field Remediation:
Trace physical components and unmapped piping, valve and wiring layout loops. Work directly at the control panel instrument manifolds, and junction boxes to map out the current I/O (inputs/outputs) and improve physical sequencing.
Continuous Plant Expansion:
Act as the long-term engineering anchor for corporate growth. As new wells are drilled, evaluate incoming gas streams, scale up purification architectures, and adjust the system to maximize output.
Position Breakdown Process Optimization:
Auditing physical layouts, calculating fluid dynamic corrections, tracing field wiring/PLC I/O, and optimizing automated system sequencing.
Long-Term Strategy, Engineering & Commissioning:
Designing expansions for incoming wells, configuring new processing equipment, modelling variable stream flows, and running system-wide performance testing to maximize helium purity and recovery.
Candidate Requirements Must-Haves:
Education:
A Bachelor's Degree (B.S.) or equivalent field/engineering experience in Chemical, Process, or Petroleum Engineering.
Core Engineering Experience:
5+ years of proven history performing process design calculations (e.g. mass transfer zones, adsorption kinetics, gas velocity calculations, materials/mass balances and gas purification architectures).
Hands-On Electrical & Instrumentation Skills:
Excellent practical field skills. You must be completely comfortable using a multimeter, tracing unmapped wiring point-to-point, debugging hardware I/O loops, and working directly on physical solenoid valves and instrument panels.
System Logic & Troubleshooting:
Strong proficiency in diagnosing industrial control loops, valve sequencing, and automated cycle logic (specifically working with industrial PLC/control platforms like AutomationDirect or Allen-Bradley).
P&ID Literacy:
Advanced ability to read, interpret and create Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) and electrical schematics against actual as-built field hardware.
Nice-to-Haves:
Helium Experience NOT Required:
While direct experience in helium processing, natural gas, or industrial gas refining is a major plus, it is absolutely not mandatory. We welcome senior-level process engineers from other chemical processing or nitrogen generation industries who have strong fundamental mass transfer skills and a willingness to master helium thermodynamics.
Adsorption Technologies:
Hands-on experience with PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) or VPSA separation units, including molecular sieve configurations (Carbon Molecular Sieve, Zeolite beds etc.).
Variable Stream Management:
Prior experience engineering systems designed to handle variable gas flow rates, fluctuating inlet pressures, or flexible wellhead gas compositions.
Schedule, Travel & Reporting Structure Chain of Command:
This position reports directly to our VP of US Operations and you will work alongside our Site Manager.
Hours & Schedule:
Standard hours, Monday-Friday, 9-5, with a flexible framework managed in coordination with site management. While there is no routine on-call requirement, flexibility to work over weekends to meet specific commissioning deadlines or accommodate travel timings is occasionally required (with time taken back in lieu the following week).
Initial On-Site Phase:
An initial on-site commitment of 4-5 days a week (or a structured 2-3 days per week) will be required. All travel, lodging, and logistics costs are reimbursed by the company.
Long-Term Structure:
Once the initial commissioning is complete at each well site, on-site requirements will reduce, swivelling into a structured hybrid schedule focused on long-term optimization, data analysis, and engineering new well tie-ins. To Apply This position offers a rare opportunity to join a fast-moving energy infrastructure company at a pivotal stage of its US expansion. While our technical scope is broad, we prioritize core engineering fundamentals, strong analytical problem-solving skills, and a practical, proactive mindset over a perfect match on every individual bullet point. If you are a capable engineer who enjoys technical autonomy, thrives on bringing order to complex systems, and wants to secure a long-term role with an attractive equity incentive structure, we invite you to apply. We operate with a dedicated, highly skilled team on-site; finding a professional who communicates effectively and can work seamlessly with our existing team is incredibly important to us. Please submit your CV for consideration. In your cover letter or introductory note, please briefly highlight: 1. A specific instance where you successfully reverse-engineered, diagnosed, or commissioned a challenging industrial process or automated sequence. 2. Your general availability to accommodate the initial on-site diagnostic schedule. All applications and inquiries will be held in the strictest confidence and reviewed directly by our executive leadership team.
Pay:
$100,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year
Benefits:
401(k) Flexible schedule Health insurance Paid time off Parental leave Professional development assistance
