The Company and Mission
Are you looking to make a difference in the push towards Net Zero? Are you passionate about technical innovation and interested in putting your experience to work in a cutting-edge green tech company with potential for worldwide environmental impact?
Welcome to this exciting opportunity to join DRIFT Energy.
DRIFT operates at the intersection of deep tech, digital, AI and the blue economy. At our core, we are a data-driven engineering company – on a mission to make Oceans of Clean Energy.
Established in 2021, DRIFT is backed by reputable VCs, family offices and angel investors. We are graduates of the Catapult Energy Systems, Set Squared Bristol and Creative Destruction Labs. Our company has been showcased in the Sunday Times, Forbes and demonstrated at SailGP. We are award winning, including LeZERO Global Innovation Prize of 2023 at COP28 and 2024 winner of the Monaco Prize for Innovation in Renewable Hydrogen and Transportation. The Company have reached their seed funding and this is now a crucial and exciting time for the business as we look to appoint a Head of Power Plant.
This role is highly autonomous and will see you influence and pioneer a new class of renewable energy to help combat climate change, in what is a world first.
Purpose of the Role
This role is accountable for the development of the design and ultimate delivery and operation of the first-of-a kind (FOAK), end-to-end Hydrogen production and storage scope within the envelope of the minimum viable yacht (MVY) – DRIFT’s first commercial vessel class (and beyond). Working as a member of the integrated DRIFT team, this role will be required to work with ship integration technology and package providers, EPCs, fabricators and end users alike, to deliver a system meeting all requirements of cost, performance, schedule, operability and maintainability.
This opportunity provides the candidate the unique chance to not only see, but to be heavily influential in apex capital delivery projects from early-stage design through to build, operation and optimisation, developing highly capable and sought after skillsets along the way.
Initially this role does not have any direct reports but this teams needs to build out over the next 2 years so will require strong team leadership.
Key Responsibilities
Ultimately accountable for the delivery of the Hydrogen system within the envelope of the DRIFT Energy Vessel (aka MVY). This will include, but not limited to:
· Building on an existing Concept and Feasibility stage design, develop the Process Plant Design for water purification, Hydrogen generation via electrolysis, purification, compression, storage and product offloading, including required utilities for safe start-up, operation and shut-down.
· Working with technology providers, selected EPC’s and multidisciplinary Owners Engineers, further develop the complete Process Plant Design through FEED, detailed design, build, commissioning and ultimate project delivery stages for Drifts first vessel, and multiple fleets beyond that.
· Design stages to include typical documents and studies, such as heat and mass balance, P&ID’s, control methodology, schedules, load lists, plot plans HAZID / HAZOP / LOPA / SIL / QRA and hazardous area classifications, etc.
· Being the primary point of contact to Hydrogen system technology providers, EPC’s, shipyards and interfaces with vessel design teams.
· Providing Risk Mitigation Process Design and Hydrogen expertise to the DRIFT team in seeking to optimise the Hydrogen system within the envelope of the MVY and DRIFT business objectives.
· Supporting DRIFT discussions with regulatory agencies including classification societies.
· Work with the Project and Procurement manager to develop a detailed project plan for the delivery of the Hydrogen system which is integrated and consistent with the delivery of the MVY.
· Develop and maintain the Project and Technology Risk register, putting mitigation plans in place to rigorously manage risk as appropriate.
· Ensure that the design at all times meets the sustainability objectives of DRIFT, identify and communicate potential deviations and opportunities.
· With the support of procurement engineers, manage equipment and sub-system delivery schedules in coordination with the build out of the MVY.
· Manage and engage with relevant Government consultations and lobbying / educating activities with Government.
· Support Business Development with client and off-take interactions where appropriate.
Your Skills and Experience
Essential qualifications, skills & experience:
* Bachelors or Masters in Chemical Engineering
* Minimum of 5years experience in project development through to realisation of process plant systems, preferably in the hydrogen/industrial gases field.
* Strong interpersonal, stakeholder/ supplier management, negotiation skills
* Exceptional communication skills and presentation skills
Desirable Skills & Experience:
* Chartered engineer in the appropriate professional institution
* Experience of electrical systems
* Experience in industrial gases, oil and gas/energy, chemical processing industry
* Experience within the Offshore, Maritime and Energy sectors
* Knowledge of offshore/marine design rules
* Strong attention to detail
* A willingness and the confidence to be part of a ground-breaking first of a kind system with a desire to step-up to the accountability required in a close-knit high energy team
Compensation and Benefits
* The opportunity to be part of a hugely innovative world climate change initiative
* Working with a passionate, committed and visionary “crew”
* 26 days holiday per year
* Competitive salary
* Pension
* Private Medical Insurance
* Life Assurance
This role offers flexible working, with the main design office based in Bath.
Diversity & Inclusion
We are keen to encourage applications and interest from individuals underrepresented in the deep tech and climate space. Climate change and climate justice is both a social and inclusion issue. We especially welcome applicants with experience across all equality and inclusion challenges and are keen for applicants who may have different experiences to those exactly specified in the application.