Membrane Engineer

Via Separations is a Boston-area startup dedicated to enabling process efficiency and intensification for the industrial sector. In H1 2024, Via delivered its first commercial facility and changed the narrative around market-driven energy technologies that drive value for industrial customers. At the intersection of engineering, society, and impact, our team is passionate about making a difference and building the technology and organization to do it. We are a fast-paced, interdisciplinary team backed by leading venture capital firms, and we are looking to add talented, mission-driven people to our cohort. 

We are passionate about transformative impact, optimistic about scientific progress, and unafraid of hard problems. We believe that our people are our unfair advantage, and drive our mission forward. We embrace the diversity of our team for creative solutions and believe the best ideas come from the intersection of disciplines and perspectives. We want you to join us!

Position Overview

Via Separations manufactures industrial filtration systems to drive the transition from expensive, energy-intensive thermal separations to efficient, lower cost filtration. Via’s Membrane Performance team is responsible for ensuring the novel membrane technology underpinning these systems achieves the performance and lifetime requirements necessary to meet customer needs.

As a Membrane Engineer within this team you will collect and analyze data to understand critical filtration performance trends, and use this information to support the design and optimization of both existing and future systems. You will have the opportunity to work as part of a cross-functional team, spanning from lab-scale through to commercial systems processing hundreds of gallons per minute. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with a passion for innovation and a track record of delivering technical solutions in complex industrial environments.

Responsibilities Include:

• Apply system level thinking to optimize the performance of Via’s separation systems at the lab, pilot and commercial scales
• Design experiments, collect data and perform statistical analysis to understand trends in membrane performance and identify pathways for improvement
• Perform in-depth materials characterization and develop novel test methods to evaluate product and sub-component performance. Identify opportunities to increase performance and/or reduce costs
• Work with Process and Systems Engineering teams to understand filtration performance needs for both existing applications and new market segments
• Serve as a subject matter expert and support Via’s Operations team in responding to customer troubleshooting requests
• Communicate results and challenges across the organization, to both technical and non-technical staff, in order to drive product development

The ideal candidate will have some, if not all, of these attributes:

• Degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or similar, with 3+ years of relevant experience
• Experience with experimental design, process development and statistical data analysis
• Passion for hands-on lab work, including sample preparation, test system operation and process optimization
• An ability to execute effectively and make decisions with incomplete information
• Excellent communications and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage with stakeholders at all levels of the organization
• Experience working with membranes, separation systems and/or materials characterization is preferred
• Experience operating and optimizing pilot and/or commercial-scale systems is preferred
• Commitment to promoting a culture of safety through continuous improvement
• Some travel (up to 15%) may be required
• U.S. work authorization is required for this role

We Offer:

• Competitive compensation package, including equity options
• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Disability & Life Insurance
• 401(k)
• 12+ weeks of paid Family Leave
• Paid Flex time off
• Paid time off for Company holidays

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. Via may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role!

At Via, we value and prioritize diversity of thought, access, and experiences, and are an equal opportunity employer by choice. We consider all qualified applicants equally for employment. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, protected veteran status, religion, physical or mental disability, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation.