Senior Process Engineer

Aerleum is a French deep-tech startup pioneering Reactive Direct Air Capture (Reactive DAC) — a breakthrough technology that integrates carbon capture and conversion into a single reactor. Our mission is to produce cost-competitive, scalable, and sustainable fuels that directly replace fossil-based alternatives in hard-to-decarbonize sectors such as maritime shipping, aviation, and chemicals. 

Founded in 2023, Aerleum is backed by top-tier investors such as 360 CP, HTGF, Norrsken, Bpifrance, and Marble and has won several prestigious awards.

So, where are we going now? Scale our technology from lab to commercial deployment and make synthetic fuels a viable alternative at industrial scale.

As a Senior Process Engineer, you will lead the design, development, and optimization of our systems - reactor engineering, associated thermal and chemical processes. You will be a key technical authority in the scale-up from lab to industrial scale, ensuring high-performance, safety, and cost-effectiveness of the systems. You will supervise junior engineers, coordinate cross-functional activities with internal and external stakeholders, and act as a technical advisor to the CTO and leadership team.

Main Responsibilities:

Process Design and Technical Leadership

• Lead the modelling and simulation of complex chemical and thermal processes using ASPEN and other process design tools.

• Define the architecture and scaling strategy of core systems: reactors, heat exchangers, pumps, compressors, etc.

• Conduct advanced thermodynamic analyses to improve energy efficiency and robustness of the process.

• Supervise and mentor junior engineers and interns within the process team.

Industrial Scale-Up & Pilot Oversight

• Oversee the design, construction, and commissioning of lab and industrial pilots.

• Ensure compliance with technical, safety, environmental, and regulatory standards.

• Interface with EPC contractors, equipment suppliers, and external engineering firms.

Innovation & Strategic Process Improvement

• Lead process innovation initiatives to reduce CAPEX/OPEX and enhance system performance.

• Support strategic decisions regarding process design choices and industrial partnerships.

• Define testing protocols and validation strategies for new components and system upgrades.

• Analyze performance data to inform iterative improvements and ensure process reliability.

We’re seeking a process expert with both the technical depth and the leadership skills to drive innovation from lab to industrial scale.

• PhD or Master’s degree in Process Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field.

• Minimum 4 years of experience in industrial process design, scale-up, and operation, ideally in energy, thermal engineering, chemical or CO₂ utilization sectors.

• Proven expertise in process modelling and simulation, particularly with ASPEN or equivalent tools.

• Strong knowledge of heat and mass transfer, reactor design, and thermodynamic optimization.

• Demonstrated experience in managing pilot plant design, construction, and operation.

• Ability to lead technical projects independently and work cross-functionally with R&D, operations, and external partners.

Additional Assets

• Experience in carbon capture, power-to-X, or fuel synthesis technologies.
• Familiarity with process safety and regulatory compliance for chemical processes.
• Experience in startup or scale-up environments.