Description:
Braskem, a global leader in the production of bio-based materials, is committed to reducing the carbon intensity of its products through development of technology utilizing bio-based feedstocks. In addition to its existing biotechnology research center in Campinas, Brazil, Braskem has recently opened a new renewable research and development facility in Lexington, MA. These two state-of-the-art facilities bring together scientists and engineers from a variety of disciplines to ideate and develop novel technologies for the production of bio-based chemicals and materials.
Braskem Innovation and Technology is seeking an exceptional Computational Fluid Dynamic engineer for conceptual process design and scale-up of emerging technologies in the area of bio-based chemicals via fermentation processes. The candidate will have primary responsibility for CFD Modeling of fermentation/downstream commercial process design, ensuring technical risks are addressed and mitigated in the scale-up from lab to pilot/demo phases. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in bioprocess scale-up with experience in industrial implementation of new technology, technological knowledge of purification techniques for bio-processes, and comfort working closely with innovative teams from research and development.
Key Responsibilities:
- Strong technical foundation with the ability to apply first-principles engineering thinking, including fluid dynamics, transport phenomena, thermodynamics, and scale-up/scale-down principles;
- Experience computational fluid dynamics (CFD), modeling, simulation, experimental fluid dynamics, or related tools to support design decisions and application understanding;
- Establish and lead our CFD capability, including selecting modelling tools, defining workflows, and establishing best‑practice standards and providing expert guidance on Fermentation Technology development;
- Develop and apply mechanistic and/or data‑driven models to support process understanding and decision‑making, in collaboration with data scientists and subject matter experts.
- Contribute to scientific and technical strategy, including evaluation of new technologies, digital tools, and modelling approaches relevant to fermentation/DSP development.
Requirements:
- A master’s degree in chemical engineering, biotechnology or other relevant fields.
- Minimum of 6 years of relevant experience or 3 Years with a PhD in Computational Fluid Dynamic modelling focused on bioprocess development.
- Extensive hands-on CFD simulation experience.
- Experience in bioreactor operation, scale-up, and process optimization (DoE).
- Excellent communication, teamwork, and project management skills.
- Demonstrated experience in process development for fermentation product purification and implementation of new bioprocess technology at industrial scale.
- English and Portuguese fluency is required
- Candidate will work in a hybrid mode with a home site of Campinas, Brazil to ensure a close working relationship with research teams at the Braskem Tech Centers.
Skills Required
- Master's degree in chemical engineering, biotechnology or other relevant field
- Minimum of 6 years relevant experience or 3 years with a PhD in CFD modelling focused on bioprocess development
- Extensive hands-on CFD simulation experience
- Experience in bioreactor operation, scale-up, and process optimization (DoE)
- Demonstrated experience in process development for fermentation product purification and industrial-scale implementation
- Excellent communication, teamwork, and project management skills
- Fluency in English and Portuguese
- Ability to work hybrid with home site in Campinas, Brazil
What We Do
With a global vision of the future, oriented toward people and sustainability, Braskem is engaged in contributing to the value chain in order to strengthen the Circular Economy. Its almost 9,000 team members are dedicated to improving people’s lives through sustainable solutions in chemicals and plastics. With its corporate DNA rooted in innovation, Braskem offers a comprehensive portfolio of plastic resins and chemical products for diverse industries, such as food packaging, construction, manufacturing, automotive, agribusiness, health and hygiene, and more. Braskem is globally headquartered in Brazil. In total, there are more than 40 industrial units in Brazil, the United States, Mexico, and Germany, exporting its products to clients in over 80 countries.
