Senior Chemical Process Engineer

Company Description

Curio is building the backbone of the second nuclear era by developing and commercializing advanced nuclear-fuel-cycle technologies. Our work focuses on closing the nuclear fuel cycle through scalable chemical processes that reduce waste, strengthen nonproliferation, and enable reliable, clean energy and advanced medical isotope production. Curio operates at the intersection of nuclear engineering and industrial chemical manufacturing. Our success depends not only on breakthrough science, but on the ability to translate proven chemistry into robust, bankable, and operable industrial systems.

Role Description

Curio is seeking a Senior Chemical Process Engineer

to own the scale-up of core chemical processes from pilot through demonstration and into commercial deployment. This is a

hands-on, execution-focused role

for an engineer with real experience designing, starting up, troubleshooting, and operating industrial chemical processes. The successful candidate will be responsible for turning validated chemistry into

continuous, maintainable, and financeable process designs

that perform reliably in the real world. This is a full-time, on-site role in

Washington, DC

, with regular engagement across pilot facilities, engineering partners, and government stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

- Own process flowsheets from

pilot to commercial scale

, including scale-up strategy and risk reduction

- Lead development and review of

PFDs, P&IDs, material and energy balances

, and design bases

- Drive decisions on

batch vs. continuous operation

, throughput, and operability

- Lead and participate in

HAZOPs, process safety reviews, and startup readiness

- Troubleshoot real-world issues including

solids handling, fouling, corrosion, heat transfer, and off-gas treatment

- Define materials of construction and equipment selection for

high-temperature, corrosive, and hazardous environments

- Interface directly with

EPC firms, operators, and regulators

to ensure designs are buildable and operable

- Provide technical leadership and veto authority over fragile or impractical designs

Required Qualifications (Non-Negotiable)

- B.S. in Chemical Engineering

(required)

- 15+ years of industrial process engineering experience

- Direct responsibility for

operating chemical process units

, including startups and troubleshooting

- Demonstrated experience scaling processes from

pilot → demo → commercial

- Hands-on experience with

hazardous, corrosive, or high-temperature chemical systems

- Deep familiarity with

unit operations

, solids handling, gas-phase systems, and off-gas treatment

- Experience leading or owning

HAZOPs and process safety reviews

Preferred Background

- Petrochemical refining, fluorochemicals, specialty chemicals, or gas processing

- Experience working with

EPC contractors

(Fluor, Bechtel, Worley, KBR, etc.)

- Exposure to

nuclear or radiological environments

(helpful but not required)

What This Role Is Not

- Not a research or modeling-only position

- Not a lab-only role

- Not an early-career engineering role

This position is for someone who has

built, broken, and fixed real chemical systems at scale

.

Why Curio

Curio offers the opportunity to apply deep industrial process expertise to one of the most consequential infrastructure challenges of our time. The right candidate will have

real authority

, real impact, and a direct role in shaping first-of-a-kind industrial nuclear fuel-cycle facilities in the United States.