Job Posting Title:
Senior Engineering Scientist, Center for Energy and Environmental Resources, Cockrell School of Engineering
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Hiring Department:
Center for Energy and Environmental Resources
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Position Open To:
All Applicants
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Weekly Scheduled Hours:
40
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FLSA Status:
Exempt
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Earliest Start Date:
Immediately
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Position Duration:
Expected to Continue
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Location:
PICKLE RESEARCH CAMPUS
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Job Details:
As a top-10 engineering school with the No. 1 program in Texas, the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) has been a global leader in technology innovation and engineering education for over a century. With 11 undergraduate and 13 graduate programs, over 20 research centers and a faculty community that boasts one of the highest number of National Academy of Engineering members among U.S. universities, Texas Engineering has launched some of the nation’s most accomplished leaders and pioneered world-changing solutions in virtually every industry, from space exploration to energy to health care. Situated in the heart of Austin — named “America’s Coolest City” by Expedia and “The Best Place to Live in the U.S.” by U.S. News and World Report — the Cockrell School embodies the city’s innovative spirit. Major companies with Austin campuses, such as Dell, National Instruments, Apple, IBM, Samsung, Google and many others, continue to recruit Cockrell School students at a remarkable rate, launching thousands of successful careers and developing Texas Engineers into industry leaders.
At UT Austin, we say “What starts here changes the world.” As a member of the university community, you will be part of an organization that is internationally recognized for our academic programs and research. Your work will have meaning and make a difference not only in the lives of our faculty, staff, and students, but also in those who are impacted by our first-class academic and research programs.
The Center for Energy and Environmental Resources (CEER) serves as the central liaison for energy and environmental research, education, and public service at the University of Texas at Austin. It focuses on efficient and economical use of energy and on ensuring a cleaner environment by developing, in cooperation with industry, processes and technologies that minimize waste and conserve natural resources. Established in 1974, CEER is located in the Electromechanics and Energy Building at the J. J. Pickle Research Campus, where it occupies over 43,000 square feet of labs & office space. Over its history, CEER has worked with 25 departments and 10 colleges of the university, collaborating on research projects, supporting graduate students, and stimulating education activities related to energy. CEER is an organized research unit that reports through UT's Cockrell School of Engineering.
CEER research projects are funded from a variety of state, federal, and private sources, including the Texas Advanced Research and Technology Programs, National Science Foundation, US Department of Energy, US Environmental Protection Agency, Texas Governor's Energy Office, several national associations, and more than 40 private and public corporations.
UT Austin provides outstanding employee benefits and total rewards packages that include:
Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%)
Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options
Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
Teachers Retirement System of Texas, a defined benefit retirement plan, with 7.75% employer matching funds
Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b)
Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional conference opportunities
Tuition assistance
Expansive employee discount program including athletic tickets
Free access to UT Austin's libraries and museums with staff ID card
Free rides on all UT Shuttle and Austin CapMetro buses with staff ID card
General Notes
This position may be filled at a higher-level title, relative to the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate.
Purpose
The Senior Engineering Scientist will manage a contract research program involving laboratory and pilot-scale separation equipment. Will conduct an effective professional research program that benefits and enhances the UT Process Science and Technology Center (PSTC). Provide service to the separation technology community which reflects positively on the Process Science and Technology Center and the University. Coordinate activities of Technical Staff to maintain a high level of operating efficiency.
Responsibilities
The Process Science and Technology Center (PSTC) will upgrade their experimental facilities which includes replacing existing equipment with upgraded equipment. Activity will include specifying new equipment, preparing drawings, identifying equipment suppliers and fabricators and procurement of equipment. The activity involves coordination and scheduling with outside contractors
Effectively interacts with industrial sponsors to maintain the program support
Participates and ensures experimental operations are conducted in a safe manner
Prepares reports
Prepares proposals, secures funding, and equipment donations to enhance pilot plant capabilities
Interacts with PSTC Principal Investigators to maintain relevance for our industrial sponsor needs
Keeps up to date with the latest pilot plant instrumentation and process control technologies. Implements and assists in utilizing the latest technologies to improve plant safety and monitoring. Keeps up to date on the latest extraction, distillation, and carbon dioxide absorption/stripping technologies
Provides support for and supervision of graduate and undergraduate student researchers participating in the Process Science and Technology Center activities
Provides technical presentations at conferences
Performs other related duties as assigned
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering or related field. Ten (10) years of pilot plant experience.
Experience in lab or pilot scale distillation and chemical separations. Leadership in the technical community. Documented evidence of research or engineering contributions.
Preferred Qualifications
Ph.D. Degree in Chemical Engineering or related field. Two (2) or more years of experience.
Experience in strong distillation background with some experience in dividing wall distillation, absorption and stripping, liquid extraction, heat transfer and process equipment design.
Salary Range
$ 130,000 + depending on qualifications
Working Conditions
Flexibility in working with changing priorities
Environmental demands
Uniforms and/or personal protection equipment including respirators (furnished)
Able to work at elevated heights (50 ft)
May work in all weather conditions
May work in extreme temperatures
May work around chemical fumes
Will work around standard office conditions
May work around chemicals
May work around electrical and mechanical hazards
Physical Tasks
Work Shift
Standard work schedule is Monday – Thursday, 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Friday 7:30-11:30
Periodic work outside of normal business hours, to include evenings and weekends, may be required on a periodic basis.
Required Materials
Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.
Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left-hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled into your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.
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Employment Eligibility:
Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.
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Retirement Plan Eligibility:
The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.
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Background Checks:
A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.
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Equal Opportunity Employer:
The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.
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Pay Transparency:
The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.
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Employment Eligibility Verification:
If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.
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E-Verify:
The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:
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Compliance:
Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.
The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.
