Process Engineer

About the role

As a Process Engineer at Kyoto, you'll lead process engineering activities across our thermal energy storage projects, taking ownership of process design from concept through commissioning. You'll ensure engineering quality, work closely with multidisciplinary teams and suppliers, and help deliver robust solutions that enable industrial decarbonization.

Responsibilities

• Lead process engineering activities across assigned projects, providing technical leadership within the engineering team.
• Develop and review process engineering deliverables, including PFDs, P&IDs, process calculations, hydraulic calculations, heat and mass balances, and process specifications.
• Support the sizing and specification of process equipment, including heat exchangers, pumps, valves, tanks, and piping systems.
• Participate in HAZOPs, design reviews, and commissioning activities.
• Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams, suppliers, and project managers throughout all project phases.
• Represent the company in technical discussions with vendors and subcontractors.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of process design methodologies and operational performance.
• Ensure effective management of change and maintain accurate, up-to-date engineering documentation.

Required skills & experience

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in chemical, Industrial, or Process Engineering, or equivalent.
• Extensive experience in thermal process engineering, ideally within Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), thermal energy storage, or steam generation systems.
• Experience with molten salt systems is highly desirable.
• Experience applying API, ANSI, and ISO standards to the design and specification of process equipment.
• Familiarity with hydraulic calculation software (Pipe-Flo), heat and material balance software (Thermoflex), and/or process simulation software (Aspen HYSYS).
• Strong understanding of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid dynamics.
• Fluent in written and spoken English.

Alternative industry backgrounds will also be considered:

• Chemical process plants.
• Oil & Gas facilities.
• Petrochemical, refinery, or other thermal process industries involving heat transfer equipment and complex process systems.
• On-site construction, commissioning, or operational experience.
• Working knowledge of Hazard Studies (HAZOP), LOPA, pressure relief standards, hazardous area classification, and control of major hazards.

Personal profile

• Proactive, self-motivated, and accountable, with a strong sense of ownership and initiative.
• Collaborative and solution-oriented, with the ability to build strong relationships across teams and disciplines.
• Adaptable and comfortable working in a dynamic, growing, and international environment.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with excellent attention to detail and quality.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Able to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality work to schedule.
• Curious, resilient, and eager to learn and contribute to continuous improvement.
• Motivated by accelerating the energy transition through industrial decarbonization.
• Enthusiastic about being part of a growing team.
• Willing and able to travel as required.

Joining Kyoto

We’re a scaling startup, building something ambitious in the energy transition. That means the work is real, the pace is fast, and the path isn’t always mapped out in advance.

What that actually looks like

You’ll be hands-on. This isn’t a place where strategy and execution live in different departments. If something needs doing, you’re close enough to do it or shape how it gets done.

You’ll need a mindset built for change. What’s true about Kyoto today won’t be entirely true in six months. We’re not looking for people who need the ground to hold still.

You’ll make decisions before all the facts are in. Waiting for certainty is a luxury we can’t always afford – staying agile is how we stay competitive. We need people who can move with incomplete information and adjust as they learn more.

Why it’s worth it

We’re a small team, which means what you do matters – visibly, immediately, and often permanently. There’s only one of you here. You’ll leave a mark on how Kyoto works, not just on your own results.

Growth here isn’t a line item in a training budget. It’s the job you’ll be doing in 18 months that doesn’t exist yet – because you grew into it, or because you saw it needed to exist and built it.

We’re a crew of dedicated professionals who trust each other, learn fast, and back each other up when things get hard – because they will, sometimes. If that sounds like the kind of challenge you want, not the kind you’re trying to avoid, we’d like to meet you.

What we offer

• A meaningful role in accelerating the energy transition and industrial decarbonization.
• Competitive compensation and benefits (pension, medical, travel, and life insurance).
• A flexible and supportive working environment.
• Opportunities for professional growth, development, and international exposure.
• A collaborative, international team united by a shared purpose.

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