Remote Process Excellence Manager Jobs in California

Team: Technology
Employment type: Full-time
Work Model: Hybrid (Los Angeles-based; ~1 day/week remote)
Travel: 0-25% per month

About Mote

Mote is developing a first-of-a-kind technology for woody waste biomass that removes CO2 from the air and produces clean hydrogen to help the world meet climate goals, improve air quality, and reduce wildfires. We are developing modular projects based on our innovative and groundbreaking biomass gasification process that also enables permanent carbon sequestration. We are looking for standout individuals who are driven by reversing climate change to join our growing team, to help build our company and to contribute to our culture.

About the Team

The Technology Team enables decarbonization at scale by leading process development, R&D, and technology deployment. The team supports internal and external stakeholders by ensuring Mote’s technologies operate safely, efficiently, and reliably – from early testing through commercial deployment.

About the Role

The Process Controls Engineer will own the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the control and safety systems for Mote’s modular gasification platform. This includes field instrumentation, distributed control systems (DCS), safety-instrumented systems (SIS), human-machine interfaces (HMI), data historians, and advanced analytics.

Reporting to the Director of Process Engineering, this role will also play a key part in developing, commissioning, and operating Mote’s Advanced Testing Center (ATC), where new process innovations and control strategies are validated at pilot scale.

This role is ideal for a hands-on controls engineer who thrives in first-of-a-kind systems, values safety and rigor, and is excited to apply modern control, data, and optimization techniques to climate-critical industrial processes.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain control system, safety system, and automation philosophies for modular gasification facilities.
• Design, configure, and implement Delta V DCS architectures, control strategies, and HMI standards.
• Support the full lifecycle of safety-instrumented systems (SIS), including participation in HAZOP, LOPA, and functional safety activities (IEC 61511).
• Own alarm management strategy, including alarm rationalization, setpoint review, and ongoing performance monitoring.
• Specify and requisition control and safety systems, instrumentation, panels, and 3rd party scopes of work.
• Review vendor proposals and support technical evaluations and purchase order development.
• Develop and maintain detailed control system design documentation, including:
  • Control narratives and philosophies
  • Cause & effect matrices
  • Instrument and I/O lists
  • Loop diagrams, wiring, and termination drawings
  • Configuration databases and indices
• Support installation, commissioning, startup, and operations of pilot and commercial systems.
• Troubleshoot and resolve control system and instrumentation issues.
• Collaborate closely with process engineers, mechanical engineers, technicians, and contractors to ensure safe and compliant execution.
• Identify and pilot data-driven optimization, machine learning, and AI opportunities, such as fault detection, process optimization, and predictive maintenance, using operational data.
• Drive continuous improvement and innovation while maintaining strong safety, operability and reliability standards.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• 5 years (minimum) experience in process controls, automation, or instrumentation engineering in an industrial environment.
• Strong understanding of control theory, instrumentation, and industrial automation best practices.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety and operational excellence.
• Passion for climate solutions or carbon removal and an interest in practical AI applications.

Preferred Qualifications

• 10 years (minimum) experience in the energy, industrial processing or similar industry.
• Hands-on wiring, panel checkout, or field commissioning experience.
• Hands-on experience configuring and supporting Emerson DeltaV DCS systems.
• Experience with systems handling biomass, oxygen, hydrogen, syngas, or other flammable gases.
• Experience with safety-instrumented systems and functional safety standards (IEC 61511).
• Experience working on pilot plants, first-of-a-kind (FOAK), or modular systems.
• Experience supporting industrial process operations, commissioning, or startups.
• Familiarity with industrial data historians and applied analytics, machine learning, or AI tools used in operational environments (e.g., process optimization, fault detection, anomaly detection, or predictive maintenance).

Pay and Benefits

At Mote, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow within a role. Your base pay depends on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

At Mote, under favorable financial conditions, employees are eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases and stock bonuses. These awards are allocated based on individual performance.

U.S.-based employees have access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with company match, basic life insurance, among others.

U.S.-based employees also receive, per calendar year, up to 12 scheduled paid holidays, and initially up to 80 hours of paid vacation. Paid time off may also be available for illness, bereavement, maternity and paternity leave, and jury duty.

Note: Mote compensation, benefits, and employee stock programs will vary depending on the nature of your employment with Mote and the country where you work.

Mote is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We ensure fair treatment for all candidates, without discrimination based on race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or veteran status. We also evaluate qualified applicants with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with legal requirements. Mote adheres to the principle of pay equity and is dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities during our hiring process. Please contact us if you need assistance. Mote maintains a drug-free workplace.