Senior Research Engineer, Center for Energy and Environmental Resources in Cockrell School of Engineering

Job Posting Title:

Senior Research Engineer, Center for Energy and Environmental Resources in Cockrell School of Engineering ----

Hiring Department:

Cockrell School of Engineering ----

Position Open To:

All Applicants ----

Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40 ----

FLSA Status:

Exempt from FLSA ----

Earliest Start Date:

Immediately ----

Position Duration:

Expected to Continue ----

Location:

PICKLE RESEARCH CAMPUS ----

Job Details:

General Notes

As a top-10 engineering school with the No. 1 program in Texas, the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) has been a global leader in technology innovation and engineering education for over a century. With 11 undergraduate and 13 graduate programs, over 20 research centers and a faculty community that boasts one of the highest number of National Academy of Engineering members among U.S. universities, Texas Engineering has launched some of the nation’s most accomplished leaders and pioneered world-changing solutions in virtually every industry, from space exploration to energy to health care. Situated in the heart of Austin — named “America’s Coolest City” by Expedia and “The Best Place to Live in the U.S.” by U.S. News and World Report — the Cockrell School embodies the city’s innovative spirit. Major companies with Austin campuses, such as Dell, National Instruments, Apple, IBM, Samsung, Google and many others, continue to recruit Cockrell School students at a remarkable rate, launching thousands of successful careers and developing Texas Engineers into industry leaders.

UT Austin, recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Large Employers , provides outstanding employee benefits and total rewards packages that include:

• •Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%)
• •Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options
• •Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
• •Teachers Retirement System of Texas, a defined benefit retirement plan, with 7.75% employer matching funds
• •Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b)
• •Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
• •Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional conference opportunities
• •Tuition assistance
• •Expansive employee discount program including athletic tickets
• •Free access to UT Austin's libraries and museums with staff ID card
• •Free rides on all UT Shuttle and Austin CapMetro buses with staff ID card

ORU General Notes

The Center for Energy and Environmental Resources (CEER) serves as the central liaison for energy and environmental research, education, and public service at the University of Texas at Austin. It focuses on efficient and economical use of energy and on ensuring a cleaner environment by developing, in cooperation with industry, processes and technologies that minimize waste and conserve natural resources. CEER research projects are funded from a variety of state, federal, and private sources, including the Texas Advanced Research and Technology Programs, National Science Foundation, US Department of Energy, US Environmental Protection Agency, Texas Governor's Energy Office, several national associations, and more than 40 private and public corporations.

Established in 1974, CEER is located in the Electromechanics and Energy Building at the J. J. Pickle Research Campus, where it occupies over 43,000 square feet of labs & office space. Over its history, CEER has worked with 25 departments and 10 colleges of the university, collaborating on research projects, supporting graduate students, and stimulating education activities related to energy. CEER is an organized research unit that reports through UT's Cockrell School of Engineering .

Position Purpose

The Senior Research Engineer manages an industry-funded research program involving lab and pilot scale separations equipment. The incumbent will conduct research which benefits and enhances the UT Process Science and Technology Center (PSTC), provide service to the separation technology community which reflects positively on the PSTC and the University. The incumbent will also coordinate activities of Technical Staff to maintain high level of operating efficiency.

Responsibilities

• •Supervise technical staff of the pilot plant, including one process engineer, one instrumentation technician, and one mechanical technician
• •Develop original proposals to utilize the pilot plant to conduct research on industrial separations including distillation, liquid/liquid extraction, and absorption. Solicit and obtain industrial and government funding for these proposals.
• •Develop and Implement research plans on pilot plant. Participate and ensure experimental operations are conducted in a safe manner.
• •The PSTC is upgrading their experimental facilities which includes replacing existing equipment with upgraded equipment. Responsibilities will include specifying new equipment, preparing drawings, identifying equipment suppliers and fabricators and procurement of equipment. The incumbent will also be responsible for coordination and scheduling with outside contractors.
• •Keep up to date with the latest pilot plant instrumentation and process control technologies. Implement and assist in utilizing the latest technologies to improve plant safety and monitoring. Keep up to date on the latest extraction, distillation and carbon dioxide absorption/stripping technologies.
• •Analyze data and prepare reports on research projects
• •Prepare proposals, secure funding and equipment donations to enhance pilot plant capabilities.
• •Provide support for and supervision of graduate and undergraduate student researchers participating in the PSTC activities.
• •Prepare and submit publications to scientific and trade journals, provide technical presentations at conferences
• •Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• •MSc degree in chemical engineering or related field.
• •Minimum of seven (7) years of professional experience
• •Experience in lab or pilot scale distillation, and/or other separation processes
• •Experience working in a dynamic environment with changing priorities
• •Experience interacting with federal and industry project sponsors and stakeholders, and/or other customers
• •Experience securing support and funding for research projects

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• •Ph.D. degree in chemical engineering or related field, with a commensurate publication record
• •More than seven (7) years of professional experience
• •Strong distillation background with some experience in dividing wall distillation, absorption and stripping, liquid extraction, heat transfer, mass transfer, and process equipment design.

Salary Range

$160,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• •Will work around standard office conditions
• •Uniforms and/or personal protection equipment including respirators (furnished)
• •Able to work at elevated heights (50 ft)
• •May work in all weather conditions including extreme temperatures
• •May work around chemicals including chemical fumes
• •May work around electrical and mechanical hazards

Physical Tasks

• •Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation
• •Use of manual dexterity
• •Climbing of stairs and ladders
• •Lifting and moving weights up to 50lbs

Work Shift

• •Standard work schedule is Monday – Thursday, 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Friday 7:30-11:30
• •Work outside of normal business hours, to include evenings and weekends, may be required on a periodic basis.

Required Materials

• •Resume/CV
• •Letter of interest
• •3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume in the first step of