Process Flow Chemist

Job Title: Flow Chemist or R&D Process Chemist (Scientist I – Principal Scientist - Sr Scientist)
Job Type: Permanent, Full-time
Work Schedule: Onsite, In Office
Sector: Alternative Energy / Biotechnology
Location: San Diego, CA (Sorrento Valley area)

NES Fircroft is a leading global technical recruitment company providing professional contract and permanent staff to a diverse world-wide client base within the energy industry. Our client, an innovative start-up focused on advancing chemical process development, has a permanent opportunity for a Flow Chemist or R&D Process Chemist to be based in San Diego, California.

Position Summary
This role offers the opportunity to lead optimization of chemical reactions and conversion into flow systems. The successful candidate must know how to create a flow set up in lab setting to design, run, and test several experiments. They will play a key role in developing R&D chemistry while collaborating closely with engineering teams for process scale-up. The position requires expertise in both batch and flow chemistry, reaction kinetics, and heterogeneous catalysis to support commercialization of cutting-edge technologies.

Key Responsibilities

• Exemplify excellence in lab safety and chemical hygiene practices.
• Optimize proprietary chemical reactions to determine conversion and yield limitations.
• Improve reactions across multistep chemical synthesis schemes for enhanced conversion and yields.
• Determine reaction kinetic rates, kinetic behaviors, and inherent limitations.
• Build experimental solutions to overcome equilibrium or thermodynamic hurdles in reactions.
• Convert batch reactions into flow reactions for improved overall performance.
• Design and assemble gram-scale flow reactor systems using lab equipment (e.g., syringe pumps, check valves, and coiled tubing).
• Calculate all critical reaction metrics and KPIs for tech transfer and scale-up.
• Design, document, and validate flow reactions for process development.
• Perform reactions using corrosives, flammable materials, and gases under pressure.
• Apply analytical methods to identify and quantify reactants, products, and byproducts.
• Strengthen chemistry data management and project communication within the R&D team.
• Organize, present, and share data, challenges, and strategies with global teams.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Identify and evaluate appropriate metal catalysts for heterogeneous reactions.
• Onboard and commission equipment for catalyst preparation.
• Design and build integrated flow reactor arrays for continuous production of compounds and intermediates.
• Implement methods for preparing metal catalysts on solid supports.
• Develop novel bimetallic catalysts through diverse preparation techniques.
• Characterize in-house catalysts thoroughly and document results for technology transfer.

Qualifications
Required:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry or related field (Master’s or PhD preferred).
• Direct hands-on experience with flow chemistry and/or continuous reactions at R&D scale.
• Experience with startup, stabilization, and steady-state operation of lab-scale flow reactors.
• Demonstrated success converting batch reactions to flow/continuous systems.
• Experience obtaining reaction kinetic rates and behavior.
• Experience documenting results and methods for external partners.
• Experience optimizing yield, reaction time, selectivity, conversion, and solvent selection.
• Experience with hydrogenation, deoxygenation, and protection/deprotection chemistry.

Desired:

• Experience designing and building lab-scale flow reactors.
• Experience developing heterogeneous metal-on-support catalysts.
• Knowledge of heterogeneous catalysis and product recovery.
• Experience scaling multistep synthesis to pilot scale.
• Experience developing analytical methods (GC, HPLC, MS, TGA).
• Experience in product isolation, purification, crystallization, and extraction methods.
• Experience organizing and executing project management strategies for communication and transfer of chemistry data.

Working Conditions / Environment

• Able to work onsite 5 days per week.
• Work in BSL1 and HazMat laboratory environments with exposure to flammables, corrosives, and general health hazards.
• Travel up to 10%.

Why Work Here

• Growth in a Fast-Paced Environment – Be part of a pioneering start-up driving chemical innovation.
• Cutting-Edge Process Development – Contribute to the advancement of novel flow and batch chemistry methods.
• Mission-Driven Impact – Play a role in developing sustainable technologies with real-world applications.
• Collaborative & Inclusive Culture – Join a team-oriented environment that values diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Engage with Industry Experts – Work alongside leading scientists, engineers, and technical experts.
• Competitive Compensation & Benefits – Receive market-leading salary, bonus potential, comprehensive health benefits, PTO, holidays, and more.

This is an excellent opportunity to join an innovative start-up at the forefront of chemical process development. The successful applicant will receive a competitive compensation package, annual bonus, comprehensive medical benefits, PTO, holidays, and more. Candidate must have authorization to work in the U.S. without a visa or ongoing work permit. For more information on this opportunity or others, please contact Mishu Ventura.

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.