Research Development Process Engineer Jobs in Bakersfield, CA

Job Title: Senior Process Engineer

Department: Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) & Utility

Company: California Bioenergy LLC

Reports To: Director of Engineering

Office Location: Bakersfield, CA

Annual Salary Range: $135,000.00 to $155,000.00

Potential Annual Bonus: 5%

Benefits:

Standard CalBio benefits package is available:

• Medical
• dental
• vision
• life insurance
• 401k with match

California Bioenergy LLC (CalBio), founded in 2006, is one of the nation’s leading developers, owners, and operators of dairy digester projects. Working closely with our family dairy partners and agencies, including CARB, CDFA, CPUC, CEC, and the EPA, alongside affiliates Midwest Bioenergy, Northwest Bioenergy, and Southwest Bioenergy, we capture methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and beneficially use it to generate renewable natural gas (RNG) and electricity. Our projects reduce more than one million metric tons of CO₂e emissions per year, with a pathway to doubling these reductions over the next three years. A major use of CalBio RNG is as vehicle fuel; when truck fleets transition from diesel to natural gas, pollution emissions can drop by ~90%, delivering immediate air-quality benefits in communities such as California’s San Joaquin Valley and the L.A. Basin. These projects also help protect local air and water quality, create jobs, and provide new revenue and other meaningful benefits for our dairy partners.

The Senior Process Engineer is an experienced, degreed engineer (typically B.S. or M.S. in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering), with Professional Engineer (PE) license strongly preferred, who provides technical leadership and oversight across complex RNG projects. This role is responsible for delivering sound engineering judgment, mentoring junior engineers, and ensuring that process designs meet safety, regulatory, operational, schedule, and cost objectives.

The Senior Process Engineer manages work with minimal supervision and plays a key role in shaping project execution strategies, supporting full project lifecycle activities (concept through commissioning), and driving continuous improvement initiatives.

• Lead the development, review, and approval of process design drawings, calculations, data sheets, specifications, and technical deliverables.
• Serve as a technical authority on process engineering matters for RNG system, including anaerobic digestion (covered lagoons, CSTR), biogas upgrading (membrane, PSA), gas conditioning (H₂S removal, dehydration), and compression and pipeline interconnect or virtual pipeline systems.
• Provide engineering direction and oversight to Process Engineers and other technical staff.
• Apply advanced understanding of operating principles, industry engineering standards, codes, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead technical scope definition and resolve complex engineering challenges.
• Interface directly with internal stakeholders, consultants, contractors, vendors, and regulatory agencies.
• Review multidisciplinary engineering drawings and provide technical input to ensure designs are coordinated and aligned with project scope, design intent, and requirements.
• Support and/or leads HAZOPs, design reviews, safety reviews, and constructability reviews.
• Support commissioning, startup, troubleshooting, and optimization of operating facilities.

• Demonstrates strong technical leadership and sound engineering judgment.
• Mentor and develop junior engineers through coaching and feedback.
• Makes timely, well-reasoned technical decisions and takes accountability for outcomes.
• Collaborates effectively across disciplines and influences without authority.
• Applies business and systems thinking to technical decisions.
• Champions continuous improvement, innovation, and standardization.
• Models and reinforces a strong safety culture.

• Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field; master’s degree preferred.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license strongly preferred.
• 8–12 years of progressively responsible process engineering experience.
• Preferred experience in RNG, biogas, anaerobic digestion, or gas processing industries.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and review BFDs, PFDs, P&IDs, and heat and material balances.
• Advanced proficiency in engineering calculations, simulations, and process modeling tools (e.g., Pipe Phase, PRO II, Aspen HYSYS, Aspen Plus, or similar).
• Strong understanding of applicable codes, standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Work locations are industrial and agricultural, primarily outdoors in the Central Valley of California. Temperatures range from 40°F in the winter to 115°F in the summer. Limited exposure to hazardous materials or toxic fumes may require use of approved personal protective equipment. Regular exposure to heat, noise, flammable materials, rotating equipment, and other conditions typical of industrial environments should be expected.

This position may require lifting to 50 lbs., climbing ladders or stairs, bending, squatting, and accessing confined spaces. California Bioenergy ensures all applicable work rules and safety requirements are closely adhered to.