Paris · On-site

Yama is hiring a Pilot Engineer to operate our running Direct Air Capture pilot, drive process optimization and eventually coordinate the demonstration plant for our Low-Concentration Carbon Capture (LCCC) platform — capturing CO₂ from ambient air through to dilute gas-fired flue-gas streams. Our first commercial go-to-market is natural gas-fired power plants, with longer-term deployment behind the meter at AI and data center sites.

The role spans pilot operations, process optimization from data analysis, and process simulation, and sits at the bridge between R&D and engineering. You report to the CTO and work closely with our R&D Lead.

Duration: Full-time, permanent Location: Pilot site (Drancy) 75% - Central Paris 25%

Skills & Experience

• Master's or PhD in chemical engineering
• Hands-on experience (>3y) operating continuous chemical processes in pilot or lab environments — running campaigns, troubleshooting instrumentation, working with process control systems
  • Lead interactions with instrument suppliers & automation engineers
  • Management of a small R&D pilot facility
  • Implementation of process optimization methods applied to experimental set-ups
  • Ideal experiences: plant commissioning, experimental campaigns on pilot plant, PhD experience with hands-on experience on pilot set-up
• Process modeling experience in at least one of: electrochemical processes, CO₂ capture or other gas scrubbing applications, processes involving organic and inorganic aqueous systems
  • 2–3 years of experience in chemical process simulation on professional software (gPROMS preferred; AVEVA, Aspen Plus also relevant)
• Successful track-record in the management of a R&D project - end-to-end
• HSE awareness and good operational discipline on a chemical pilot site
• Comfort building new working frameworks with experimental teams
• Strong transversal thinking — able to reason from molecules to systems
• Fluent in English; Professional French essential
• For the evolution of the role, we will value an experience in the execution of Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) studies, including exposure to supplier selection processes (bid/quotation analysis) and involvement in the procurement of key engineering equipment.

Key Responsibilities

You operate Yama's DAC pilot and lead the process design of our CO2 capture technology applied to dilute flue-gas streams from natural gas-fired power plants. Your role, closely related to the CTO, is to prepare the design and engineering of our next demonstration unit (1tCO2/d).

The pilot is where the technology proves itself; the simulation work feeds directly off pilot data and forward into commercial-scale design. You define the simulation strategy, run it day-to-day, and combine your own work with internal team contributions and external resources (consultants, model software vendors).

Concretely, your main responsibilities include: