Senior Process Engineer - ELYSIS

Shape Your World

At Alcoa, you will become an essential part of our purpose: to turn raw potential into real progress. The way we see it, every Alcoan is a work-shaper, team-shaper, idea-shaper, world-shaper.

Senior Process Engineer - ELYSIS

A New Era for the Aluminum Industry - ELYSIS

Carbon Free Aluminum

There is a new, revolutionary way to make aluminum. It eliminates all greenhouse gases. And it produces oxygen! The ELYSIS technology is the greatest breakthrough in the aluminum industry since its beginnings in 1886. It has the potential to drastically reduce the environmental footprint of the global aluminum industry.

The ELYSIS technology effectively puts an end to the use of carbon anode in the aluminum smelting process. It features the newly developed breakthrough proprietary materials that are stable and do not react during the process. Thus, it eliminates all direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the aluminum smelting process and is the first technology ever that emits oxygen as its byproduct.

An unprecedented world-class partnership of two major aluminum industry pioneers - Alcoa and RioTinto - led to the formation of ELYSIS, announced in 2018. The Canadian Government and the Quebec Government, through participation of Investment Quebec, have decided to support and be part of this industry revolution. The world's technology giant Apple has helped facilitate the collaboration between Alcoa and RioTinto on the carbon-free smelting process and has agreed to provide ELYSIS with technical support.

ELYSIS is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada with Technology Research & Development locations in Alma, Quebec, Canada, in Jonquiere, Quebec, Canada, in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, United States, and in France.

ELYSIS provides a unique solution for drastic reductions in the carbon footprint of many products used in our daily lives, including transportation, construction, electrical and consumer goods industries.

ELYSIS metal is now being used by Apple (MacBook Pro and iPhone 12 SE), AB InBev (cans), Audi (e-tron GT wheels), and Corona (cans).

About the Location

The ELYSIS US Research & Development facility is in the Alcoa Technical Center (ATC) located in New Kensington, PA, which is the birthplace of the aluminum industry. Near Pittsburgh, PA, the ATC is where the process being scaled up by ELYSIS was first developed with a dedicated team who continues to reinvent the aluminum industry for a sustainable future.

About the position

The senior process engineer will participate in the development of innovative technology. This individual will work on projects requiring engineering, design, laboratory operations, and manufacturing efforts for the industrialization and commercialization of ELYSIS electrodes. The senior process engineer will lead projects from conception through implementation.

Key Activities/Responsibilities

• Create and execute technology development programs aimed at reducing industrialization scale-up risks for critical equipment and processes.
• Support the development of technical specifications for key future commercial-scale equipment by carrying out R&D testing, implementing new manufacturing processes, and completing continuous improvement initiatives of existing equipment.
• Lead implementation of best practices, standard operating procedures, and innovative solutions to optimize new and existing processes to ensure compliance with safety and quality standards. For example, visual cues, reusable travelers, revisions to safe work instructions.
• Responsible for solving problems to root cause: identify opportunities for improvements and implement innovative solutions required to improve material development activities.
• Perform hands-on work requiring the ability to apply material fundamentals and technology into practical solutions and applications in laboratory-, pilot-, and commercial-scale environments.
• Collect process data and apply standard scientific and statistical methods to document, analyze, interpret, and optimize processes.
• Be the primary help chain for production technicians in determining product failures. Can determine where defects are generated throughout the process and present recommendations for improvements.
• Communicate progress and results diligently through detailed written technical reports, presentations, and invention disclosures.
• Interface and collaborate effectively with diverse internal groups across ELYSIS, customers, contractors, and suppliers to develop scope, schedule, and cost to meet program objectives.

Mobility

ELYSIS is a global company with operations in Canada, France, and the United States.

Business-related travel and extended duration assignments or missions may be essential for the success of this role.

About You

• BS or graduate degree in Materials Science & Engineering, Ceramics Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of work experience in an R&D or industrial setting working with materials (e.g. ceramics, cements, or powder metallurgy processing), characterization, production, and related areas.
• ability to work and lead effectively in a team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to develop project plans and execute in a disciplined fashion to meet objectives within the timeline.
• Ability to work with resources within and outside the program team to accomplish project tasks.
• Proficient computer skills: MS Outlook, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Project, JMP, MS Access or other database.
• Strong organization and analytical skills for data management, analysis, and results presentation.

Diversity: Be Part of an Unprecedented Partnership

At ELYSIS we are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard, all cultures respected and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome, they are essential to success of the unprecedented partnership that ELYSIS is.

We treat each other respectfully, fairly, compassionately and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, or anything else that makes us different. At ELYSIS, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from women, the LGBTQIA2 community, mature workers, people with disabilities, and people from different cultural backgrounds. ELYSIS is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

About the Location

Every day is a new and exciting challenge at the Alcoa Technical Center in New Kensington, PA, just north of Pittsburgh. We develop new technologies with our Breakthrough Technologies team that has the potential to impact the life of millions of people and foster the sustainable footprint from Alcoa to the world. It was here where we developed the technology recently announced in partnership with Rio Tinto, called ELYSIS, where we will produce aluminum with ZERO emission of greenhouse gases. In fact, we will actually be generating oxygen to our atmosphere during the aluminum production process- a revolution to the aluminum industry!

We are values led, vision driven and united by our purpose of transforming raw potential into real progress.Our commitments to Inclusion, Diversity & Equity include providing trusting workplaces that are safe, respectful and inclusive of all individuals, free from discrimination, bullying and harassment and that our workplaces reflect the diversity of the communities in which we operate.

As a proud equal opportunity workplace and affirmative action employer, Alcoa is dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of a person's gender, age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, nation of origin, disability, veteran status, language spoken or any other characteristic or status protected by the laws or regulations in the places where we operate.

If you have visited our website in search of information on U.S. employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Alcoa Recruiting via email at gssrecruiting@alcoa.com.

This is a place where you are empowered to do your best work, be your authentic self, and feel a true sense of belonging. Come join us and shape your career!

Your work. Your world. Shape them for the better.