Test Engineer - Biochar Pilot

Test Engineer - Biochar Pilot
Portsmouth, Virginia AMP is ing AI-powered sortation at scale to modernize the world's recycling infrastructure and maximize the value in waste. AMP gives waste and recycling leaders the power to harness AI to reduce labor costs, increase resource recovery, and deliver more reliable operations. With hundreds of deployments across North America, Asia, and Europe, AMP's technology offers a transformational solution to waste sortation and changes the fundamental economics of recycling. Headquartered in Louisville, Colorado, the Denver Post and BuiltIn Colorado have recognized AMP as one of the state's top workplaces. AMP has operations and career opportunities outside of Atlanta, Cleveland, Portsmouth, Virginia, and Europe. We're fostering an environment w passionate individuals can grow and create impact. We seek unconventional thinkers to join our mission to enable a world without waste; at AMP, your contributions have meaning and can spur change. With backing from top-tier investors and national recognition including North American Cleantech Company of the Year, we're always seeking ways to better our operations, raising the bar on innovation, and looking to collaborate and improve in what we do. Learn more at AMPSortation. We're looking for a hands-on Test Engineer to help operate, test, and improve a small-scale biochar pilot system in Portsmouth, VA. This is a field-based role at the intersection of waste processing, thermal conversion, and climate technology. Our mission is to turn difficult waste streams into valuable products while helping build durable carbon removal solutions. This role is a great fit for someone who wants to work on real hardware, real waste streams, and real climate impact — not just theory. You'll play a key part in generating the data, operational insight, and test discipline needed to scale a promising carbon removal pathway. We're especially interested in candidates with experience in the waste, biomass,anics, high temperature processing or engineered fuels industries who are excited by the opportunity to that experience to a climate-focused startup environment. What You'll Do Pilot Operations & Test Execution Execute test plans on a biochar system involving high-temperature thermal processes such as pyrolysis andbustion
Operate equipment processing municipal solid waste (MSW),anics, biomass, and engineered fuels
Handle, prepare, and feed variable waste streams safely and consistently
Perform system startups, shutdowns, inspections, and routine operating adjustments
Ensure tests are run consistently, safely, and in accordance with defined procedures Data Collection, Analysis & Reporting Collect, log, and validate operational and test data with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail
Track feedstock characteristics such as moisture, contamination, andposition variability, and relate those factors to system performance
Use Excel and other straightforward tools toanize, summarize, and interpret test data
Document results clearly and support development of repeatable test methods and operating procedures
Help identify trends, anomalies, and opportunities to improve performance and data quality Scientific & Analytical Support Support sample collection and characterization for biochar, feedstocks, and process outputs
Work with laboratory and analytical equipment used to evaluate material and process performance
Assist with validation of test methods and measurement quality across pilot and lab workflows
Contribute to data packages used to support technical development, reporting, and scale-up decisions Continuous Improvement Help identify process issues and support practical solutions during pilot operation
Improve test procedures, operating consistency, and data quality over time
Work closely with engineering and operations teams in a fast-moving pilot environment w systems and procedures are still evolving
What We're Looking For Required 2-5 years of experience in an industrial, pilot, field, laboratory, or manufacturing environment
Experience in waste processing,anics handling, biomass, incineration, engineered fuels, or similar industrial sectors
Familiarity with high-temperature thermal systems or industrial process equipment
Strong attention to detail in data collection, documentation, and test execution
Experience using Excel for data tracking,anization, and basic analysis
Comfortable working in physically demanding industrial environments around waste streams and thermal equipment
Strong safety-first mindset and respect for hazardous equipment, variable feedstocks, and industrial operating conditions
Nice to Have
Experience handling MSW,anics, biomass, RDF, SRF, or other heterogeneous feedstocks
Background in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, environmental science, or a related technical field
Experience with lab-grade testing and analytical equipment, including:
Elemental analysis
TGA
Ultimate and proximate analysis
Moisture and ash testing
Other scientific instrumentation used for material characterization
Experience with MRV for CDR or familiarity with measurement, reporting, and verification approaches for carbon removal systems
Familiarity with DAQ systems, sensors, wiring, or instrumentation
Experience with pneumatic systems or propane/gas plumbing
Experience validating system performance, including debugging or identifying issues inputer vision systems
Who You Are
You're excited by the chance to work on a climate technology with real-world deployment potential
You'refortable working with waste-derived andanic feedstocks and understand the challenges of variable materials
You're methodical,anized, and care about generating clean, defensible data
You like being close to the process and can move between field work, test execution, and technical documentation
You take safety seriously and bring a practical, hands-on attitude to industrial work
You're energized by startup environments w priorities evolve and the team is building as it goes
Why This Role
Work on technology that connects waste management, carbon removal, and industrial decarbonization
Help convert real-world waste streams into useful products and measurable climate impact
Join a startup environment w your work will directly shape the pilot, the data, and the path to scale
Build experience across operations, testing, materials characterization, and climate-tech deployment AMP provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, gics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Applicants who identify with a historically underrepresented group are encouraged to . This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence,pensation and training.