Membrane Applications Engineering Manager at ZwitterCo Full Time

Woburn, MA or Remote

Overview of Role

ZwitterCo is seeking an experienced Membrane Applications Engineering Manager to join our growing Applications Engineering and Technical Service team. This role will be responsible for managing the Applications Engineering team ensuring the successful, high-impact application of ZwitterCo’s cutting-edge membranes across industries and geographies.

The candidate will play both an internal- and external-facing role and serve as a subject matter expert on the implementation and integration of ZwitterCo membranes into larger industrial process, water, and wastewater operations. The ideal candidate will have deep experience in crossflow (tangential flow) filtration system design, including spiral wound reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration; membrane process integration within larger treatment plants; process and/or wastewater applications; and water and/or drinking water applications; as well as managing successful engineering teams focused on these areas.

Key to this role is the ability to work across functions in a fast-paced dynamic environment. Role responsibilities include working with the leadership teams across our technical and commercial organizations to successfully drive commercial opportunities from lead to sale and post-sale support (see Responsibilities section for a more complete list).

ZwitterCo has advanced the state-of-the-art of membrane-based filtration performance across a range of industries and has set an equally high standard for all our supporting function roles. Candidates who thrive in a fast-paced, self-motivated, growth environment and those with a solid engineering skillset, strong understanding of membranes, excellent communication and presentation skills, and the capacity to manage resources and projects are particularly encouraged to apply.

About ZwitterCo

ZwitterCo has developed a breakthrough in materials science, a new class of zwitterionic membranes that are immune to fouling, making it practical and affordable to treat unconventional water and wastewater. Our mission is to provide industries with the tools to create clean water from every source, whether it involves accessing novel sources of water, shoring up distressed assets, or enabling onsite wastewater reuse.

ZwitterCo was named Global Water Intelligence’s 2023 Breakthrough Water Technology Company of the year and one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in 2024 and has commercial operations in multiple food and beverage, agricultural, and industrial sectors. The company is rapidly growing its global footprint, as well as advancing its technology platform to develop new tools that unlock broader water and wastewater applications.

Responsibilities include:

The Applications Engineering Manager is responsible for overseeing commercial projects from a technical standpoint. This role includes the following responsibilities:

• Develop and present integrator OEM/preferred partner training programs to ensure proper utilization of ZwitterCo membranes in commercial designs and installations.
• Oversee the applications engineering team’s support of commercial installations (end-user, integrator support and troubleshooting).
• Develop and/or manage the development of membrane system design software tools.
• Implement and support the technical analysis of projects during the discovery phase to determine product-application fit and likelihood of successful commercial implementation
• Plan in-house and in-field pilot demonstrations in coordination with the field and sales engineering teams.
• Track and catalog technical product improvements relevant to future products and improved product-market fit.
• Develop departmental and inter-departmental processes, RACI diagrams, and SOPs.
• Manage and approve membrane system designs from the budgetary phase to final proposal based on sound engineering judgement and historical data.
• Write or edit case studies and marketing collateral for marketing team for accuracy
• Author and present technical papers and presentations at industry conferences and to partners and customers
• Lead the Applications Engineering team with a commercial mindset underpinned by engineering expertise.
• Other responsibilities as assigned

Qualifications

• A university degree in an engineering discipline is required unless the candidate has extensive previous work experience in a comparable role. A degree in chemical, environmental, or mechanical engineering is preferred.
• 10+ years of membrane experience in a technical role: applications engineering, technical service engineering, or field engineering.
  • Professional Engineering License is a plus but not a requirement.
• Technical experience emphasizing the implementation of membranes, especially spiral wound membranes, in new applications and bench-to-pilot-to-commercial scale installations. Experience costing, designing, and/or installing reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, and other spiral wound membrane systems.
• Broad knowledge of water and wastewater treatment technologies, processes, and markets.
• Customer-facing experience, ideally with a proven track record of significant customer interactions, industry presentations, and on-site customer support.
• Engineering management experience, especially at the department level.
• Excellent communication skills both written and oral.

Schedule, Travel, Compensation, and Location

This is a full-time in-person (Woburn, MA), hybrid, or remote position and will report directly to the Director of Commercial Engineering.

Travel for this role is expected to be up to 25%.

Compensation will be commensurate with experience and include equity and benefits.