Fraunhofer USA, Inc. is a 501c(3) non-profit organization. Applied research is the foundation of our organization. Fraunhofer USA bridges the gap between basic research and industry aiming to accelerate technology development resulting in faster market penetration. We partner with our clients from academia, government, and industry to transform original ideas into innovations that benefit society and strengthen the economy.

The Fraunhofer USA Center Midwest is located on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. The Center focuses on next-generation materials for a variety of markets, including, automotive, energy, environment, and health. The Center’s technology portfolio includes additive manufacturing, coatings, plasma sources, diamond materials, and laser applications.

Fraunhofer USA Center Midwest is seeking a highly motivated, reliable, and technically competent individual to join our team as a Project Engineer. In this role you will play an integral part within our diverse team of diamond experts advancing the use of diamond as material for electrochemical sensing and water treatment for a broad variety of markets through government and industry funded research. Additionally, we interact with, develop and supply a wide variety of diamond electrodes to our customers from academia and industry.

This is a salaried position offering benefits that include health and dental insurance, life insurance, paid vacation, and a pension plan.

The business core working hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with an average working week of 40 hours. Project-dependent work hours may be shifted outside of the core working hours as needed.

Responsibilities

The Project Engineer will be primarily responsible for performing research experiments, analytical chemical measurements and associated data analytics in support of the environmental and water treatment research activities of the Diamond Technologies Research Group. Day-to-day research will cover degradation and quantitation of emerging contaminants (e.g., per- and polyfluorinated Substances [PFAS], disinfection byproducts [DBPs] and pesticides) in water, as well as the electrochemical detection of heavy metals and other electroactive contaminants in soil run off water.

Detection and degradation of contaminants in the environment:

• Design and operation of water treatment systems (e.g., electrochemical oxidation, adsorption by granular activated carbon and photocatalysis) to perform emerging contaminants degradation experiments
• Collection and analysis of samples using chromatographic approaches (GC/MS, LC/MS and IC), total organic carbon analyzer, BOD/COD, spectrometer and others
• Utilization of boron doped diamond electrodes for heavy metal contamination measurement (lead, arsenic, cadmium) in soil
• Collaborate with research team on experimental results and instrumentation utilization for heavy metal detection
• Generate, process, and present data in a meaningful report

General

• Lab upkeep and maintenance
• Once trained, provide training to undergraduate student and international interns to assist in the above tasks

Required Qualifications

• BS required in Environmental Science Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering or Related Field
• Experience working in a laboratory setting
• Knowledge in Environmental and Analytical Chemistry
• Excellent technical writing and oral communication skills
• Keen attention to detail and ability to carefully track and organize samples
• Able to work in an interdisciplinary, diverse, and international team
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office software (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint)

Preferred Qualifications

• Research experience in aqueous electrochemical techniques and wet chemistry strongly preferred
• Experience in environmental and water/wastewater treatment research strongly preferred
• Experience in analysis using chromatographic separation techniques, data analysis using mass spectrometry approaches, and other various common analytical techniques such as UV/VIS, FTIR, RAMAN, XPS are preferred
• Experience in preparing manuscripts for publication in peer reviewed journals desired

Fraunhofer USA is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer of individuals with disabilities, protected veterans and is a federal contractor and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. Upon request, Fraunhofer USA will make accessible to applicants its Affirmative Action. VEVERRA and Section 503 Plans.