Process Engineering Lead

Full-time

Burnaby / Greater Vancouver, British Columbia (on-site)

CA$95,000–CA$125,000 annual + benefits

Introduction

Brightsmith is proud to be representing an innovative cleantech startup in the search for a Process Engineering Lead based in Greater Vancouver.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the development and scale-up of advanced recycling technologies designed to address one of the most complex challenges in sustainability, the recycling of blended plastics. You will play a key role in shaping engineering strategy, leading a growing team, and delivering technology that enables circular material flows.

What Makes This Role Stand Out

• Opportunity to lead engineering at a mission-driven cleantech company
• Direct impact on scaling technologies that reduce plastic waste and support circular supply chains
• A leadership role combining technical depth with people and project management
• Exposure to both internal prototyping and external technology scale-up
• A collaborative, fast-paced environment with strong growth potential

The Role

As Process Engineering Lead, you will oversee the engineering team across process development and scale-up activities. You will be responsible for delivering engineering projects from concept through to execution, ensuring reliability, scalability, and operational readiness.

This role blends hands-on technical oversight with structured project delivery and team leadership.

Key responsibilities include:

Team Leadership and People Management

• Managing, coaching, and developing a team of engineers
• Providing technical guidance across prototyping, reliability, and process development
• Allocating resources and prioritizing projects based on business needs
• Building a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing team culture

Project Execution and Delivery

• Overseeing day-to-day engineering activities across prototyping and production
• Ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to defined quality standards
• Reviewing engineering designs, documentation, and data analysis
• Supporting the team in troubleshooting complex technical challenges

Process Development and Prototyping

• Guiding the design, build, and testing of process prototypes
• Ensuring solutions are robust, well-documented, and scalable
• Supporting lifecycle management and preventative maintenance of internal systems

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partnering closely with R&D and Operations to align engineering priorities
• Communicating project updates, risks, and resource needs to senior leadership
• Ensuring clear documentation and standard operating procedures are maintained

About You

We are looking for an experienced engineering leader with a strong background in process development and team management.

You will bring:

• A degree in Chemical, Mechanical, Process Engineering, or a related field
• 7+ years of engineering experience, including at least 2+ years in a leadership role
• Proven experience managing teams through prototyping and scale-up phases
• Strong hands-on problem-solving skills across mechanical, chemical, and control systems
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage cross-functional stakeholders
• Strong organizational and project management capabilities
• Eligibility to work in Canada and ability to travel to the United States as required

How to Apply

If you are interested in leading engineering efforts at a company tackling real-world sustainability challenges, we would like to hear from you.

Please apply via Brightsmith or reach out directly for more information.