Chemical Engineer (Level I/II/Senior)

Company Overview

Pascal is a technology company commercializing solid refrigerant heat pumps and air conditioners. The HVAC sector currently accounts for 40% of global energy usage while also directly emitting 2 Gton CO₂ eq. of greenhouse gas refrigerants to the atmosphere. Pascal’s solid refrigerants undergo solid–solid phase transitions in response to pressure, and can operate within the same pressure and temperature ranges as standard gas refrigerants. Pascal’s technology eliminates the direct emission of refrigerants to the atmosphere, and offers a pathway to more efficient, more sustainable, and cheaper heating and cooling systems.

Originally spun out of Harvard, we are in the process of developing a full-scale heat pump prototype to demonstrate the commercial viability of our technology. In the long term, our technology positions us to lead a fundamental shift in the HVAC industry, revolutionizing the way we provide heating and cooling today. We are a small, founder-led company looking for motivated, talented people to join our team. For more information, visit https://www.pascaltechnology.com.

Benefits Overview

Health, dental, 20 days PTO, 11 holidays, unlimited sick days, 3 month parental leave, stock options and more

Job Overview:

Pascal is looking for a chemical engineer with at least 2+ years of experience in an industrial setting, holding at least a Master’s degree in chemical engineering, thermal science, process engineering, or related fields. Applicants should have prior experience in chemical separation and reactor design. Specific experience with multiphase flow, heat and mass transfer, thermal management, vapor-compression systems, electrochemical energy storage, absorption/adsorption processes is a plus.

Pascal has validated its core solid refrigerant technology in the laboratory and now seeks to develop a kW-scale heat pump prototype. The completion of this prototype requires design and testing of several thermal and fluidic subsystems, integration of the solid refrigerant into an overall thermodynamic cycle, and modeling of the thermal and fluid flows within the system. Chemical engineers will work closely with the technical founding team to design, model, and optimize the prototype and its subsystems, integrate those systems with the solid refrigerant module, and provide support to the materials science team on optimal solid refrigerant properties. Beyond direct work on the prototype, chemical engineers will also engage in technological development in line with the company’s technical roadmap.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Perform process modeling and thermodynamic analysis for solid refrigerant heat pump prototypes

• Design, model, and integrate fluidic subsystems involving multi-phase flow and transport

• Use simulations and experiments to identify optimal material parameters for the materials science team and to validate design modifications for process optimization

• Develop safety systems and testing protocols for the prototype

• Work with contractors to specify functional requirements for various subsystems

• Create a Bill of Materials (BOM) for the prototype and assist with techno-economic modeling

• Participate in building and enhancing the company culture and values

• Mentor interns and co-op students on R&D-related projects

Preferred Qualifications

Research suggests that qualified people from historically marginalized groups may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who might not meet the exact requirements, but who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.

• Deeply motivated by the climate crisis and its downstream impacts

• 2+ years of work experience in chemical engineering, thermal science, or process engineering, along with a strong educational background, holding at least a Master’s degree

  • Candidates with additional experience will be considered and role designation will be commensurate with experience.

• Strong background in thermodynamics, process modeling, and chemical separation

• Exceptional communication and documentation skills

• Experience in one or multiple of the following:

  • Chemical separation and purification processes (particularly distillation)

  • Solid–liquid separation and filtration

  • Creating process flow diagrams and the modeling/simulation of chemical systems

  • Handling of flammable liquids and gases

  • Chemical reactor design, assembly and validation

  • Sourcing and integration of pumps, valves, and other fluid control equipment within the process system

  • Knowledge of thermal and HVAC systems including compressors, HVAC assembly, heat exchangers, fluid transfer components

  • Thermal energy storage, transfer, conversion, and utilization

  • Working knowledge of thermal/CFD simulation tools (e.g., ACSIM, UH3D, Fluent, MATLAB)

  • Thermodynamics theory and modeling software (e.g., EES, REFPROP)

  • Familiarity with one or more software languages (Python, C++, MATLAB, etc.)

Why work at Pascal?

• Decarbonizing the HVAC industry has been identified as one of the single most impactful actions we can take to fight climate change. We have an opportunity at Pascal to solve this problem. Come join us!

• Work in the heart of one of the most innovative places in the country and a thriving hub for clean tech

• This position has high leadership and growth potential. You will be joining the company at a critical stage and we are backed by leading venture capital firms with strong momentum.

• We provide competitive salary, benefits, and equity package.

Pascal does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.