Process Engineer - Separation Technologies at Lilac Solutions, Inc. – Oakland, California

About Lilac Solutions, Inc.

Lilac exists to solve one problem: lithium supply. By engineering scalable lithium extraction technology, we help industries produce lithium faster, cheaper, and cleaner. Our ion exchange technology is rooted in scientific precision and commercial know-how, making lithium supply a non-issue for global electrification. Our materials, engineering, and approach uniquely position us to design and develop commercial projects across various lithium sources. We help lithium producers rapidly and responsibly scale production from brine resources with versatile, cost-effective, and dynamic technology solutions.

Lilac is supported by the largest players from the mining and processing industry, as well as significant investment funds. Lilac investors include BMW, SK, Mitsubishi, Sumitomo, Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Mercuria, Lower Carbon Capital, and MIT’s The Engine.

About the role

Lilac is seeking a Process Engineer – Separation Technologies to support the development, optimization, and scale-up of separation and filtration systems across lab, pilot, and commercial platforms. This role will focus on maintaining and expanding filtration capabilities at Lilac’s Oakland facility and pilot sites, while generating high-quality experimental data to inform process optimization and front-end engineering design efforts.

The engineer will evaluate emerging separation technologies—including advanced membrane and filtration approaches—and generate high-quality experimental data to improve overall flowsheet performance, reduce processing costs, and support ongoing optimization and commercial engineering efforts. This is a hands-on, cross-functional role focused on experimental execution, data-driven process improvement, and translation of test results into scalable process designs. This is a full-time position, with up to 25% travel to lithium extraction sites.

The title and level for this role (Associate or Engineer) will be determined based on experience and qualifications.

What you'll do

• Design, fabricate, commission, and operate lithium extraction modules and associated components, across bench and pilot scale.
• Development of new designs to improve efficiency of the technology
• Develop key design documents such as material balances, PFDs, P&IDs
• Automation, process control, and continual improvement of the lithium extraction skids
• Evaluation of equipment and processes to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
• Up to 25% travel, to commission and operate lithium extraction plants across the US, South America, and Europe

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree (or higher) in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, or related field.
• Familiar with laboratory equipment and safety procedures.
• Highly organized with sharp attention to detail, proficient in data analysis and interpretation.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to interface and collaborate with other engineers, chemists, and operators.
• Pass a respirator fit test periodically, occasionally stand for up to 8 hours per day, occasionally move up to 50 lbs, and wear PPE.

Preferred Qualifications

• 2+ years of hands-on laboratory experience.
• Experience working with process equipment in an industrial setting, preferably with brine solutions or water treatment systems.
• Experience working with programmable logic controllers (PLCs)