Chemical Engineer

Job description

**About CURA** CURA is a Canadian climatetech company developing electrochemical technology to reduce CO2 emissions from cement production. We split limestone into lime and pure CO2 for storage or use, cutting emissions by up to 85% while lowering energy use and manufacturing cost. CURA is building a 30,000 TPA commercial facility on line for 2028. Designed as a retrofit-ready solution, CURA’s technology integrates with existing feedstocks, infrastructure, and operations. The company’s founders are seasoned climatetech leaders, with experience in scaling technologies to reduce global CO2 emissions. CURA works with partners globally to accelerate the decarbonization of the cement industry. We are building a team of inventors, builders, and systems thinkers who thrive at the intersection of ambition and execution. CURA operates with a strong safety culture and all team members complete OHS orientation and role-specific safety training. **The Role** We are seeking a Chemical Engineer to join our Calgary team and help drive the development, optimization, and scale-up of CURA's electrochemical cement decarbonization process. This role spans both hands-on laboratory work and process engineering: performing the experiments needed to validate and de-risk the process, and translating those results into process simulations, design, sizing, and selection of equipment for electrochemical cement production modules. The Chemical Engineer will serve as a key contact point for contract engineering firms, ensuring their work is aligned with CURA's vision, standards, and long-term strategy. Reporting directly to the CTO, the successful candidate will collaborate closely with the engineering team to deliver CURA's first pilot project in 2027 and support the advancement of future commercial-scale facilities. The position is based primarily in Calgary and offers the opportunity to work in a dynamic, fast-paced startup environment focused on industrial decarbonization and clean technology innovation. Occasional travel within Canada and internationally may be required to support pilot plant development, engage with engineering and equipment suppliers, visit customer and partner sites, and participate in project meetings and industry events. ### KEY RESPONSIBILITIES **Laboratory & Experimental Work** - Plan and execute feedstock characterization experiments (e.g., composition, impurity profiling, particle size, reactivity) to establish design bases for process engineering. - Perform acid leaching, dissolution, precipitation, and other bench-scale experiments to validate process chemistry and generate data for equipment sizing and selection. - Design and run experiments that de-risk scale-up decisions, including impurity removal, separation, and product quality studies. - Analyze experimental data and translate results into process design inputs, mass balances, and equipment specifications - Maintain rigorous experimental records and generate clear technical reports and recommendations - Convert laboratory measurements into engineering design criteria, including equipment sizing, operating regimes, utility requirements, and process control strategies. - Collaborate with process design teams to ensure laboratory-generated data and findings are incorporated into process simulations, PFDs/P&IDs, and techno-economic analyses. - Support scale-up commissioning by developing laboratory testing protocols, sampling plans, and analytical procedures for process monitoring. - Measure physical properties of process streams (e.g., density, viscosity, solids content, particle size distribution, settling rate, filtration characteristics) to support equipment design and process modeling. **Engineering** - Perform process simulations, calculations, and design for electrochemical cement production modules. - Lead equipment sizing, selection, and specification for critical process units (vessels, towers, exchangers, pumps, compressors, etc.). - Generate PFDs, heat and material balances, and P&IDs. - Prepare process information for instrumentation design and selection. - Ensure process engineering is done accurately and to high standards with compliance to applicable codes and regulations. - Coordinate with other process engineers, project team members, and project managers to ensure design execution aligns with scope and schedule. - Support process safety studies (HAZOP, HAZID, SIL, LOPA, etc.). - Support procurement activities: prepare data sheets, issue RFQs, compare vendor quotes, and participate in vendor selection. - Prepare operating manuals, shutdown keys, alarm and set point lists. - Review and approve fabrication drawings. - Support techno-economic modelling and lifecycle analysis to guide scale-up decisions. - Other duties as required to achieve CURA’s technical milestones. **Safety Documentation** - Develop and document hazard assessments - Responsibly manage chemical handling, storage, and safety - Develop and document standard operating procedures for electrochemical cement production operations - Maintain rigorous experimental records and generate clear technical reports and recommendations **Collaboration & Communication** - Effectively collaborate across an interdisciplinary team - Effectively communicate outcomes and provide recommendations for further development to the management team - Responsibly identify and manage IP, and communicate it to management, internal team members, and external stakeholders **Leadership & External Relationships** - Manage relationships with external stakeholders, such as vendors, suppliers, and partners - Contribute to a culture of honesty, transparency, innovation, and safety ### QUALIFICATIONS **Required** - Candidates must be legally eligible to work in Canada. - Master's degree (or higher) in Chemical Engineering or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered. - Minimum 4 years of experience in laboratory-based process development, process design, scale-up, or industrial operations (clean tech or cement industry experience is a plus). - Hands-on wet chemistry laboratory experience, including experimental design, execution, and data analysis. - Strong knowledge of electrochemical systems, materials characterization techniques and analyses, materials processing, or industrial decarbonization technologies. - Proficiency in process modelling tools (Aspen Plus/HYSYS, COMSOL, or equivalent). - Eligible for registration as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) or Engineer-in-Training (E.I.T.) with APEGA. - Experience managing external engineering partners or contractors is an asset. - Excellent problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills. ### WHAT WE OFFER - The opportunity to do original technology development at the frontier of industrial decarbonization - Competitive salary and early-stage equity stock options - Generous vacation policy and a flexible, mission-driven culture - A chance to make a measurable impact on global climate solutions