Full-Time

Senior Development Engineer

Updated on 9/3/2026

AIRCO

AIRCO

51-200 employees

Converts atmospheric CO2 into renewable products

No salary listed

New Britain, PA, USA

In Person

In-person weekly catered lunch is provided, but no specific office-day schedule is stated.

Master's, PhD

Category
Manufacturing & Process Engineering (1)
Required Skills
Python
MATLAB
Data Analysis

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Requirements
  • A Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
  • Significant experience in process development, process modeling, simulation, and scale-up engineering within chemical process industries.
  • Strong grounding in thermodynamics, reaction engineering, and separation fundamentals.
  • Demonstrated ability to analyze large datasets and extract mechanistic insight rather than relying only on empirical fits.
  • Advanced experience with numerical tools, simulation software, or data analysis platforms such as Aspen, MATLAB, or Python.
  • Demonstrated experience developing first-principles, mechanistic, or hybrid process models for chemical reaction and separation systems.
  • Experience applying simulation and modeling tools to technology scale-up, process design, and commercialization decisions.
  • Ability to bridge experimental observations and engineering models to generate predictive process understanding.
  • Proven ability to use engineering fundamentals, experimental data, and simulation tools to diagnose process behavior and resolve technical challenges.
  • Experience in fuels, petrochemicals, refining, catalysis, or sustainable energy technologies.
  • Familiarity with scale-up challenges, process modeling, and commercialization workflows.
  • Experience supporting or delivering Engineering Design Information or Front-End Loading engineering packages.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain appropriate government authorization to access technology or information subject to governmental access control restrictions, including a security clearance, export license, or other required authorization.
Responsibilities
  • Develop and maintain first-principles process simulations and mechanistic models for reaction, separation, and integrated sustainable aviation fuel production systems.
  • Apply modeling, simulation, and data analytics to predict performance, support scale-up decisions, optimize process design, and reduce commercialization risk.
  • Convert laboratory and pilot-scale results into Engineering Design Information, process design inputs, and technology performance projections.
  • Lead the development of experimental strategies and pilot campaigns required to validate models, resolve technical uncertainties, and strengthen scale-up confidence.
  • Partner with cross-functional teams to advance technology from development through demonstration and commercial deployment while identifying opportunities for innovation and process improvement.

AIRMADE System by AIR Company captures carbon dioxide from the air and converts it into useful products, offering a renewable resource instead of letting CO2 contribute to global warming. The system is sold to industrial clients (like aviation, manufacturing, and energy) and comes with ongoing maintenance; the company may also generate revenue through partnerships and licensing. The core idea is to turn a greenhouse gas into valuable materials or fuels, providing an alternative to fossil fuels in heavy industries. The process uses atmospheric CO2 as feedstock and combines capture with conversion to create market-ready outputs. Compared with competitors, AIR Company emphasizes an integrated, scalable system for large industries, supported by service and licensing agreements, rather than relying solely on standalone technologies. The goal is to reduce fossil fuel use and curb climate change by supplying a viable, long-term source of renewable inputs for energy and manufacturing.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

Series B

Total Funding

$107.5M

Headquarters

New York City, New York

Founded

2017

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • AIRCO opened its Pennsylvania manufacturing hub on May 19, 2026.
  • AFWERX awarded AIRCO an eight-figure STRATFI and roughly $70 million total support.
  • RSB CORSIA certification rules strengthened in 2026, improving SAF market access for AIRCO.

What critics are saying

  • A May 2025 whistleblower lawsuit alleges federal fund misuse and export-control breaches.
  • WARN notices filed May 2026 affected 309 workers, signaling severe operational strain.
  • If DoD or Air Force contracts freeze, AIRCO loses its main commercialization engine.

What makes AIRCO unique

  • AIRCO sells modular, containerized fuel systems, not just lab-scale carbon chemistry.
  • Its AIRMADE platform serves defense, aviation, and point-of-use fuel production customers.
  • Patented CO2-to-alcohol chemistry plus renewable inputs creates a hard technical moat.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account

Short-Term Disability Insurance

Long-Term Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

Flexible Paid Time Off

Paid Family Leave

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Commuter Benefits

Pet Insurance

Employee Wellness Program

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

2%

1 year growth

1%

2 year growth

-1%
Business Wire
May 19th, 2026
AIRCO opens Pennsylvania facility to manufacture modular fuel systems for US Air Force

AIRCO (formerly Air Company) has opened a new manufacturing facility in New Britain, Pennsylvania, to scale domestic production of its modular synthetic fuel systems. The facility will serve as the company's primary manufacturing base, consolidating R&D, engineering, operations and manufacturing. The site will produce AIRCO's MAD Fuel System, containerised units that create jet and ground vehicle fuel from extracted CO₂, eliminating traditional fuel transport logistics. The technology, backed by recent US Air Force funding, is designed for increasing autonomy with minimal on-site personnel. AIRCO's expansion follows a recent STRATFI award from AFWERX and ongoing partnerships with JetBlue and Virgin Atlantic. The company's AIRMADE technology converts carbon dioxide and hydrogen into synthetic fuels for aviation and mission-critical applications.

Investors Hangout
May 16th, 2026
AIR COMPANY raises $69M to scale CO₂-to-fuel tech for sustainable aviation

AIR COMPANY, a carbon conversion technology company, has raised $69 million in Series B funding led by Avfuel, a global aviation fuel supplier. Avfuel will also manage distribution and logistics of AIR COMPANY's products and join its board of directors. The funding will accelerate development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced from carbon dioxide using the company's AIRMADE Technology. The process converts captured CO₂ and hydrogen into synthetic fuels and chemicals through an energy-efficient method compatible with existing aircraft systems. AIR COMPANY has established partnerships with major airlines including JetBlue and Virgin Atlantic, and secured a contract with the Defense Innovation Unit. The company has received recognition including the Environmental Protection Agency's Green Chemistry Challenge Award and accolades from the World Economic Forum for its sustainability contributions.

Carbon Herald
May 16th, 2025
AIRCO Co-Founder Files Whistleblower Lawsuit, Alleges Misuse Of Federal Funds And National Security Violations

AIRCO co-founder files whistleblower lawsuit, alleges misuse of federal funds and national security violations.

Carbon Herald
Sep 20th, 2024
AIR COMPANY Closes $69M Series B Funding Round Led By Avfuel

AIR COMPANY closes $69M Series B funding round led by Avfuel.

Business Wire
Sep 20th, 2024
AIR COMPANY Raises $69M in Series B to Commercialize Carbon Utilization Technology and Sustainable Aviation Fuels

AIR COMPANY, a carbon conversion technology company, today announced it has raised $69M in Series B funding to advance its technology, promote energy