We are a venture backed startup based in Morrisville, NC. Our team has developed a new water treatment filter from patented materials and is commercializing it for the growing market that treats industrial wastewater to reduce the cost, complexity, and climate impact of advanced water treatment operations. NALA is moving rapidly to scale, pilot, and deploy our water filters into treatment applications and we’re looking to grow our core technical team to support those activities. The Applied Research Group at NALA is responsible for understanding the filtration performance of NALA’s game-changing water filter. We are seeking a dynamic and driven individual to join our team and contribute to the development of next-generation water purification solutions.
Position Title:
Applications Engineer
Requirements:
1. Technical Expertise in Reverse Osmosis and Membrane Technology:
● Educational Background: A Master’s or Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related field with direct experience in membrane technology or water treatment.
● Experience in RO Systems: Strong understanding of membrane processes, scaling, fouling, and cleaning protocols.
2. Experience with Water Treatment Products and Market:
● Market Knowledge: Familiarity with the water treatment industry, key players, market trends, and regulatory requirements.
3. Project Management Skills:
● Project Management: Strong project management skills, with experience working with cross-functional teams in the development and deployment of complex engineering solutions.
● Budget and Resource Management: Experience in managing project budgets, resources, and timelines to ensure the successful delivery of projects.
● Problem-Solving: Strong problem-solving skills to address technical challenges during
deployment and operation, including unexpected issues that arise with new membrane technologies.
4. Soft Skills:
● Communication: Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, to effectively
convey complex technical information to customers, stakeholders, and team members.
● Adaptability: Ability to adapt to the dynamic environment of a startup, with a willingness to
take on a wide range of responsibilities.
● Innovative Mindset: A passion for innovation and the ability to think creatively to solve
problems and improve product offerings.
5. Location:
A willingness to locate in the Triangle area of North Carolina (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel
Hill) and legal authorization to work in the United States.
6. Travel: Willingness to travel, as needed, to customer sites and conferences both domestic and internationally.
NALA Membranes is proud to be an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to building a diverse and equitable workforce where all employees are treated with fairness and respect. We strive to create a supportive and inclusive environment that fosters growth, collaboration, and a positive work experience for everyone.
Position Overview:
Reports to CEO and CTO jointly. This pivotal role combines technical expertise in membrane technology with a customer-facing position, driving the development and implementation of RO systems applying NALA’s new generation of membranes. This position is responsible for developing, and conducting demonstration and pilot system projects using NALA Membranes. This role works closely with the technical, product, and sales teams. Key to this position is the need for coordinating communication within NALA to discuss, design, and implement experiments with quantitative and actionable outcomes. The primary objective for this new role is to establish NALA’s capabilities for conducting pilot trials that validate NALA Membranes value proposition and provide solutions that customers will buy.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Technical:
● Conduct feasibility studies and demonstrations to quantify key differentiators of NALA membranes with respect to customer applications.
● Design, develop and optimize reverse osmosis membrane processes for various applications, ensuring high efficiency and performance.
● Analyze and troubleshoot membrane performance, identifying and resolving issues to enhance operational efficiency utilizing NALA membranes.
2. Customer Interaction:
● Serve as the primary technical liaison for customers, understanding their needs and providing tailored solutions that incorporate NALA RO membranes.
● Collaborate with clients to transition existing RO system processes to efficiently use NALA RO membranes.
● Collaborate with clients to design and implement new RO system solutions using NALA RO membranes.
● Provide technical support and training to customers on the operation and maintenance of RO systems using NALA RO membranes.
3.Project Management:
● In coordination with NALA R&D team, lead, design, and manage pilot projects from conception through implementation, ensuring timely and successful delivery.
● Coordinate with cross-functional teams, including R&D, sales, and production, to align project goals and deliverables.
● In coordination with NALA R&D team, prepare detailed technical reports, proposals, and documentation for internal and external stakeholders.
4. Innovation and Improvement:
● Stay updated with the latest advancements in membrane technology and reverse osmosis processes.
● Identify opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement in RO systems and applications.
● Contribute to the development of new products and processes, enhancing the company's technological edge.
5.Other:
● Technical support for the membrane development, manufacturing, and element design
● Technical support for internal and external flat sheet and element testing projects
● Development of procedures and processes for your role
● Conference presentations and Trade show representation
Desirable Experience:
● Field Deployment: Hands-on experience with the installation, commissioning, and/or troubleshooting of RO systems in the field, including working in diverse environments and conditions.
● Process Design and Simulation: Proficiency in process simulation tools (e.g., Aspen, MATLAB, ROSA) and experience with designing RO systems for various applications, including
municipal, industrial, and desalination projects.
● Sales and Business Development Support: Ability to collaborate with sales teams to develop technical sales strategies, create value propositions, and support the sales process with
technical expertise.
● Industry Certifications: Relevant industry certifications (e.g., PMP, Six Sigma) could be beneficial.
● Team Leadership: Proven ability to mentor and lead engineering teams, fostering innovation and ensuring the successful execution of projects.
● Product Commercialization: Proven experience in taking new technology or products from R&D to market, including pilot testing, field trials, and full-scale deployment.
● Customer Engagement: Experience working closely with customers to understand their needs, provide technical support, and guide them through the adoption of new technologies.
Apply Below!