Role : Process Design Engineer – Capture Engineer
Department: Product Development
Job type: Full time - On site
Location: Eastern Bypass Rd, Ruai – Nairobi, Kenya, with regular travel to project and operating sites
Technical scope: Gas separation, regeneration, thermal utilities and water/wastewater systems
About Octavia Carbon
Octavia Carbon is the Global South’s first Direct Air Capture (DAC) company, dedicated to combating climate change by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. We design and build low-cost DAC technology that leverages Kenya's geothermal energy, geology, and talent to radically accelerate DAC down the cost curve. Our mission is to reverse climate change by removing billions of tons of carbon dioxide from the air by 2050.
Role Overview
We are seeking a Process Design Engineer to design, commission and improve the systems that capture CO₂ from ambient air and regenerate our sorbent. You will own assigned systems from concept through detailed engineering, procurement, commissioning and performance validation, covering the process from air intake to the reactor outlet flange plus the thermal utilities and water systems serving the reactors, with a focus on reducing energy use, water demand and cost per tonne of CO₂ captured. You will work closely with the CO₂ Systems Engineer and the Procurement, Operations, Product and R&D teams.
Key responsibilities
- Process design: Develop design bases, PFDs, P&IDs, heat and mass balances and specifications, and define reactor, sorbent and regeneration requirements from concept to detailed engineering.
- Capture-cycle optimisation: Develop and
optimise adsorption–desorption sequences and design experiments to improve capture performance.
- Utilities and water: Define steam, thermal-fluid, cooling-water, geothermal integration and water/wastewater requirements, with a focus on heat and water recovery.
- Performance and troubleshooting: Analyse plant data, lead root cause investigations and quantify improvement opportunities.
- Controls, safety and commissioning: Define control narratives and interlocks, take part in hazard studies, and lead commissioning and performance validation.
- Procurement and delivery: Evaluate suppliers, deliver process inputs on time for Mechanical and Electrical/Controls design, and maintain design records.
Qualifications and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering or a closely related discipline.
- Proven process design and hands-on plant experience, including commissioning or troubleshooting.
- Strong grounding in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat and mass transfer and process safety.
- Proficiency in Excel and engineering tools (AutoCAD Plant 3D, EPANET or AFT Fathom/Arrow desirable), with clear technical writing.
Additional experience that would be valuable
- Adsorption, sorbent regeneration, steam or geothermal systems, water treatment, pilot plants or Python.
Prior direct air capture experience is advantageous but is not essential.
As part of your application, please complete the challenge attached on the external site and attach your solution by Sunday, 8th November 2026 at 11:59 pm.
Here's the Assessment: Process Design Engineer Assessment
Octavia Carbon offers a competitive salary, a route to company equity, strong growth opportunities and a high degree of professional freedom and responsibility in a fast-paced environment with a steep learning curve.
Octavia Carbon is an equal opportunity employer and especially encourages applications from women, and individuals from diverse socioeconomic, religious and regional backgrounds.