Lydian Overview
Lydian is developing the lowest cost sustainable fuels from waste CO2, water, and renewable electricity to decarbonize the aviation industry. Our breakthrough technology replaces oil and gas refining with fully electrified, modular, and flexible reactor systems that produce fuel with 95% lower emissions than traditional jet fuel.
Since our founding in 2021, Lydian has achieved key milestones in record time, including the production of our first liquid fuel from our pilot system, capable of producing 10,000 gallons of fuel per year for a fraction of the capital and time of alternative approaches. We are building a motivated, diverse, and collaborative team that is passionate about addressing the growing climate crisis and is committed to excellence in their work. In particular, we look for tenacious people who are energized by solving the hardest, highest impact problems that come their way.
Position Overview
Lydian is looking for an R&D Engineer Intern/Co-op who is excited about researching, designing, formulating/assembling, testing, and characterizing high temperature materials and hardware for our sustainable fuel reactor systems. You will interface with engineers and scientists across various domains in order to inform your experimental design and research priorities.
The ideal candidate is excited to solve challenging technical problems related to materials, chemical reactors, and mechanical systems and doesn’t shy away from learning about new technical concepts. You have prior chem lab, prototyping, or machining experience and can own projects from start to finish.
This position is based in Boston, MA and has a minimum commitment of 6 months.
Responsibilities
- Work with the R&D team to develop high temperature materials and processes that are critical to the function of Lydian’s electrified reactors
- Own and execute advanced R&D projects, with guidance from Lydian engineers, pursuing new paths for materials development
- Set up and execute experiments on our bench-scale reactor systems and high temperature furnaces, including data analysis and identification of future research opportunities
- Use advanced characterization techniques (XRD, SEM, electrical property measurements, oxidation/corrosion analysis) to develop understanding of materials and degradation mechanisms
- Build key reactor components using repeatable, scalable manufacturing techniques. Investigate opportunities to improve existing processes
- Work with and push on internal team members and external vendors to deliver a finished product and meet project deadlines
Qualifications
We are hiring multiple co-ops across chemical engineering, materials, and mechanical engineering. Even if you do not fit all of the following, we encourage you to apply so we can learn more about you and explore potential fit with Lydian’s work/projects.
- B.S. in Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or similar
- Hands-on, proactive mentality when it comes to lab work and pushing ideas forward
- Experience documenting experimental procedures, collecting data, and performing statistical analyses of datasets
- Prior chem lab experience and experimental planning skills, including methodical and efficient DOEs to achieve project goals
- Interest and experience with hands-on engineering in a field relevant to Lydian’s electrified reactor development, including:
- Catalyst development: Synthesizing novel catalyst formulations to meet demanding reactor requirements like long operational life and high temperature stability
- Materials development: Research, formulate and characterize high temperature materials like refractory alloys, advanced ceramics, and superalloys
- Reactor testing: Design, build and optimize lab-scale reactor systems; execute tests and analyze data to inform Lydian’s reactor development and scale-up
- Mechanical design & engineering: Own novel reactor hardware design and analysis, including part sourcing, mechanical build and assembly, and initial testing; machining experience is a plus
- Desire to work in a fast-paced environment and solve interesting technical problems
- Alignment with our mission, vision, and virtues
Company Culture and Benefits
- Paid lab/engineering-focused internship with a collaborative in-person technical team
- Challenging, meaningful work that can directly impact company success
- Opportunities for networking/exposure within the climate tech community at The Engine, Greentown Labs, and Hood Park
- Mentorship from a great team of engineers and scientists
