Chemical Engineering Associate
Aether
Other Engineering
South San Francisco, CA, USA
About the Role
We are seeking a Chemical Engineering Associate to support experimental and process development work across our in-house reactor systems. This is a hands-on role focused on executing and supporting chemical processes at the pilot scale, with a clear path toward increased ownership in experimental design and process development over time.
This position is ideal for a recent Chemical Engineering graduate who is excited to apply core engineering fundamentals in a practical, fast-paced lab environment. You’ll work closely with experienced engineers and scientists to help develop and scale a unique chemical process that is central to our product.
What You’ll Do
Operate and support experiments on pilot reactor systems, including setup, execution, and teardown
Follow established procedures to run chemical processes safely and consistently
Assist in monitoring and documenting key process parameters (e.g., temperature, time, agitation, catalyst loading)
Analyze experimental data and contribute to process understanding and optimization efforts
Support general lab operations, including equipment preparation, cleaning, and organization
Collaborate with engineering and R&D teams to execute planned experiments and process improvements
Over time, you will:
Take on increasing independence in running experiments
Contribute to design-of-experiments (DOE) studies
Partner more closely with R&D to inform process development decisions
What Success Looks Like
Within 3-6 months: Ability to independently and reliably execute core synthetic processes across our reactors
Consistent delivery of high-quality experimental work and accurate documentation
Demonstrated understanding of process parameters and their impact on outcomes
Growth toward contributing to experimental design and process optimization
Who You Are
Bachelor’s (or Master’s) degree in Chemical Engineering
Strong foundation in core chemical engineering principles (e.g., reaction engineering, transport phenomena)
Hands-on experience from academic research, labs, or internships
Comfortable working in a lab environment with chemical processes and equipment
Detail-oriented with a focus on safety and execution quality
Able to manage time effectively and follow direction while building toward independence
Willing to occasionally adjust schedule to support longer-running experiments
Nice to Have
Experience working with reactors, pressure vessels, or similar equipment
Familiarity with organic solvents and standard lab glassware
Exposure to polymer synthesis or related chemistry
Basic understanding of analytical techniques (e.g., chromatography)