Senior Project Engineer

Synonym enables the commercialization and manufacture of bioproducts—accelerating the world’s transition to better, more sustainable materials and products. We believe that products created using biology will represent the next manufacturing revolution, transforming crucial elements of supply chains across multiple sectors and helping to catalyze a sustainable and decarbonized future.

Synonym works as the strategic biomanufacturing partner for companies building these next-generation bioproducts. We help companies chart their roadmaps toward commercialization and profitability by building custom techno-economic analyses (TEA) and lifecycle assessments (LCA). We match companies with contract manufacturers (CMOs) to help companies secure capacity and meet production needs. And we undertake large capital projects, working with companies to develop, finance, construct, and operate dedicated, modular fermentation facilities so they can produce at scale.

If you want to tackle global challenges that will help support a more sustainable future and be part of a team that will be an integral part of the emerging biomanufacturing ecosystem, we'd love to hear from you!

About This Job

Synonym’s Senior Project Engineer will be responsible for leading, managing, and executing large capital engineering projects from engineering design to facility startup. The candidate will leverage project management and engineering principles to initiate and develop projects, lead project teams, and facilitate collaboration between Synonym’s team, the engineering firm (EPC, EPCM), and other external partners and stakeholders to develop designs for biomanufacturing facilities.

Synonym’s Senior Project Engineer will report to the Senior Vice President of Engineering and closely work with other members of the team, as well as interface with clients, engineering firms, and equipment suppliers.

Outcomes and Mandate

• Create capital project scopes, schedules, and budgets and report on project status to company leadership and project stakeholders

• Engineering firm selection and interface

• Manage and lead project site selection and site development activities

• Prepare scope of work (SOW) and request for proposals (RFPs) for engineering services and process equipment

• Facilitate preparation (working with the engineering firm), review, and approval of project design documentation such as PFDs, P&IDs, 3D model, equipment list, equipment datasheets and specifications, BIMS, site plans, etc. 

• Leads front end loading (FEL) efforts with an engineering firm.

• Ensure that project designs incorporate Synonyms User Requirement Specifications and other design standards

• Collaborate with the process engineering team to perform selection of contractors/vendors and to develop equipment and instrumentation specifications

• Evaluate capex and opex trade-offs for site specific project decisions 

• Oversees permitting activities and is responsible for developing data and design requirements to support permitting efforts

• Manage equipment suppliers relationships and specify user and  process requirements for long lead items and packaged systems

• Oversee project risk assessments, risk corrective/preventive actions, and risk mitigation, including developing project risk registers, quality risk assessments (HACCP/HARPC), and safety risk assessments (PHA/HAZOP)

• Oversee the project commissioning and startup activities, including drafting and review of Standard Operating Procedures

Competencies

• Bachelors/Masters  degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical Engineering or related)

• 10+ years of relevant experience in manufacturing or chemical process industries. Prior experience in biomanufacturing preferred.

• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing capital projects from basic engineering to facility startup. 

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with all levels of management, clients and vendors

• Technical project leadership and execution experience, including proposal writing (RFP), project chartering and planning, scope/schedule/budget development and control,  risk identification and mitigation, and procurement management

• Prior food GMP experience with a background in fermentation or food processing (including sterile and sanitary equipment design) preferred.

• P.E. license a plus

• Project management training and/or PMP certification desired

Other Details

• Location: Synonym is a distributed organization, role is remote

• Work Authorization: Candidate must be located and authorized to work in United States

• Travel for team meetings and project site visits up to 30% of the time

Our team aspires to hire great people and create an environment where we can be happy, feel challenged, and do our best work. It's an exciting time to join Synonym and build that environment from the ground up!

Benefits Include

• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage

• Daily lunch allowance

• Beautiful office in SoHo (NYC)

• Competitive compensation packages, including equity

Synonym provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcome people from all backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and abilities.