Senior Plant/Facilities Engineer Associate

Berkeley Lab’s (LBNL) Biosciences Area Office (BSAO) has an opening for a Sr. Plant/Facilities Engineer Associate to join the Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Development Unit (ABPDU), a state-of-the-art, world-class bioprocess optimization and scale-up facility for conversion of sustainable feedstocks and biomass to biofuels, bio-based chemicals, and biomaterials. 

In this exciting role, you will provide technical support to ensure equipment and utilities are serviced and maintained to minimize the downtime at the EmeryStation East (ESE) and Potter Street ABPDU locations. Strong knowledge of biotechnology/pharmaceutical utilities and facilities will be essential to drive projects to bring in new equipment or modify existing equipment for the bioprocess pilot facilities. You will serve as a point of contact for any external vendors, building owners, facilities, engineering, and transportation personnel. 

This position will be located in Emeryville, CA and has an anticipated start date of April 14, 2025.

What You Will Do:

• Serve as the primary point of contact and partner between ABPDU and external vendors, Laboratory, Division, building owners, facilities, engineering, and other operations staff managing relationships and communicating effectively. 
• Partner with various internal and external parties regarding projects, events, and initiatives with direct impact on operations and welfare. 
• Manage subcontracts with various vendors and oversee subcontractor job hazard analysis, maintaining the Certificate of Insurance (COI) and service agreement databases. 
• Use advanced technical knowledge to maintain and optimize ABPDU utility systems, including chillers, vacuum pumps, clean steam generators, roof-top boilers, waste treatment units, and other facility equipment at all locations. 
• Receive and renew technical training for normal operation and in-house maintenance of this equipment to maintain compliance including Hazwoper for waste treatment unit operations.
• Coordinate new equipment site prep and construction with Lab Facilities and Projects & Infrastructure Modernization Divisions for larger projects. 
• Review estimates for project design, equipment, installation, labor, materials, preparation and other related costs. 
• Execute projects autonomously from inception to completion, encompassing equipment upgrades, maintenance, and commissioning, under minimal supervision. 
• Respond promptly to emergency alarms and after-hours service requests as needed and in coordination with teams.
• Serve as Chemical Owner, maintaining current hazardous chemicals inventory in the chemical management database (CMS) including proper processing of chemicals, solvents upon receipt and oversee dispatch of spent items from different campaigns. 

What is Required:

• A minimum of 4 years of experience with lab and facility equipment management, such as chillers, clean steam generators, boilers, waste treatment units, etc, and safety compliance working in a research laboratory or pilot plant facility.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct scrum to understand team needs in terms of equipment and utilities readiness for projects.
• Knowledge of chemical and biochemical unit operations for biofuel, biochemical, and protein production and their recovery and characterization methods. 
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills including experience interfacing with external vendors, building owners, and facilities personnel. 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills including experience organizing and presenting technical data, reports, and projects to audiences with varying degrees of technical expertise. 

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent knowledge/training) in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related area. 
• Project or Facilities Management Certification, Hazwoper certification, and related training. 
• A solid foundation of fundamental concepts in data structures and coding with the ability to apply technical skills in web application, servers, databases, and other back end technologies.
• Experience as a work or project lead. 

Notes:

• Application Deadline: For full consideration, please apply with a resume and cover letter describing your interest by March 27, 2025.

• Appointment Type: This is a full-time career appointment, exempt (monthly paid) from overtime pay.

• Salary Information: This position is expected to pay $99,000 - $123,768 annually, which fits within the full salary range of $99,000 - $167,100 annually for job code N40.2. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary for this position will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualification and experience, including skills, knowledge, relevant education, certifications, and aligned with the internal peer group.
• As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.
• Background Check: This position may be subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
• Work Modality: This position will be performed onsite at the Emeryville Station East Operations Center (ESE) — Bldg. 978, located at 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, CA 94608.

Want to learn more about working at Berkeley Lab? Please visit: careers.lbl.gov

Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. In support of our rich community, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

Salary : $99,000 - $123,768