Director, Product Development and Membrane Production

At Aquatech, we tackle the challenges of water scarcity and complexity by leveraging technology, expertise, and financing to deliver comprehensive solutions that reduce carbon and recycled water footprint. As a leading global provider of water and process technology solutions, we help the world's most recognized companies achieve their sustainability and operational goals by implementing innovative approaches for water reuse, desalination, minimal and zero liquid discharge, and critical minerals recovery. Our work catalyzes the transition toward a more sustainable future and showcases our commitment to addressing water's role in climate adaptation. Learn more at www.aquatech.com.  

Aquatech immediately needs a full-time Director of Product Development and Membrane Production to work in our Albany, Oregon office. The hours of this position are Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Job Summary:

This role is responsible for leading product development, membrane production, application testing, and engineering support for advanced flat-sheet membrane technologies, including Forward Osmosis (FO), nanofiltration (NF), seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO), and osmotically assisted reverse osmosis (OARO) membranes with low salt rejection characteristics. 

Job Description:

Forward Osmosis Membrane Development and Production 

• Oversee production of Forward Osmosis (FO) membranes, ensuring manufacturing consistency, quality, and alignment with product performance requirements. 

• Lead the design, development, and production scale-up of FO membrane modules. 

• Coordinate and oversee element rolling activities at partner manufacturing facilities. 

• Oversee testing of FO processes and applications to validate performance, reliability, and suitability for target use cases. 

• Support the sizing, design, and engineering of FO systems for commercial and pilot-scale applications. 

Sales and Applications Support 

• Provide technical and engineering support to the sales team for customer opportunities, proposals, and application evaluations. 

• Evaluate the technical feasibility of new applications, including process requirements, membrane suitability, and expected operating performance. 

• Assess pretreatment needs and upstream process steps required prior to membrane treatment. 

Engineering Management 

• Provide technical direction, consultation, and support to engineering staff on membrane system design, testing, and implementation. 

• Monitor project progress, identify technical risks, and support timely execution of engineering deliverables. 

• Additional duties as assigned.

Osmotically Assisted Reverse Osmosis 

• Oversee spiral-wound element production activities for OARO membrane products and related applications. 

• Manage testing and quality control procedures to ensure product consistency and application readiness. 

Application Testing and Field Support 

• Oversee laboratory testing of new FO and OARO applications, including performance validation and process optimization. 

• Lead initial pilot testing of new FO applications, including membrane crystallizer concepts and other emerging treatment processes. 

• Support field pilot testing of RecovOAR and FO systems, including troubleshooting, data review, and recommendations for improvement. 

Intellectual Property Support 

• Support internal intellectual property development for in-house technology platforms and product applications. 

• Serve as lead technical author for patent disclosures and related intellectual property documentation. 

• Prepare technical responses to patent office actions and support outside counsel as needed.

Benefits:

Aquatech offers a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off, company-paid holidays, and a 401K plan (all benefits are based on eligibility).

Physical Job Demands:

Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, limited walking, and standing.

Qualifications/Experience:

• B.S., M.S., or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or Physics.

• Background in Chemistry and/or Chemical engineering is advantageous.