Operations & Engineering Lead

Mantel is developing the first molten-salt-based carbon capture technology designed to operate at the high temperatures found inside boilers, kilns, and furnaces — enabling highly efficient carbon capture that has not been possible until now. Carbon capture can be applied across industries to reduce emissions and achieve net-negative emissions. By solving for efficiency Mantel can cut costs substantially, unlocking carbon capture's role in reaching net zero emissions by 2050. To learn more, go to: https://www.mantelcapture.com/ The Operations & Engineering Lead is Mantel's boots-on-the-ground at our first demonstration facility at Kruger's Wayagamack mill in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. You'll be responsible for keeping the system running — diagnosing problems, getting hands on equipment, and doing whatever it takes to maintain safe, stable operations. This is not a desk job and it is not a remote role. You will be physically present at the Wayagamack site every day, working through real problems in real time. This role is for someone who is energized by field work and troubleshooting — who needs to see and touch a problem to solve it, and who finds paperwork tolerable only because it supports the actual work. What you'll do: 1. Day-to-Day Operations Own the day-to-day operational health of Mantel's demonstration unit at Wayagamack — if something isn't running right, you're the first person on it Execute and oversee operating procedures, shift handovers, and routine checks to keep the system running safely and consistently Monitor system performance in real time and respond quickly when something is off — you don't wait for problems to escalate Coordinate with Kruger's site team and operations personnel to maintain a safe, professional, and collaborative on-site environment 2. Troubleshooting & Problem Solving Diagnose and resolve mechanical, process, instrumentation, and operational issues in the field — hands-on, methodical, and fast Work through problems systematically: identify root cause, implement fixes, verify resolution, and document what happened and why Build a working knowledge of every system on the unit so that no problem is outside your scope Know when to call for backup and when to solve it yourself — and be honest about the difference 3. Field Work & Maintenance Get your hands dirty — conduct field inspections, support maintenance activities, assist trades, and do the physical work the system requires Ensure equipment is maintained to a high standard: lubrication, calibration checks, filter changes, and general upkeep don't get delegated if you can do them yourself Identify maintenance needs proactively and address them before they become failures 4. Commissioning Support & System Optimization Support ongoing commissioning activities: procedure execution, punch list close-out, and system startup and shutdown Identify opportunities to improve operability, reliability, and system performance based on direct field experience Feed observations and lessons learned back to the Commissioning Director and engineering team to inform design improvements and scale-up 5. Documentation & Reporting Maintain accurate operating logs, shift reports, and field records — not because you love paperwork, but because the record matters Report clearly and concisely to the Commissioning Director on system status, active issues, and progress Flag safety concerns, near-misses, and process deviations immediately and document them completely Who You Are: Experience: 8+ years of hands-on experience in industrial plant operations, commissioning, or field engineering — in process, power, pulp and paper, or a related heavy industrial environment Education: B.Eng., B.S., technical diploma, or trade certification in a relevant discipline — demonstrated field competency matters more than credentials Put differently, You're a troubleshooter above all else — methodical, hands-on, and not satisfied until you understand exactly what went wrong and why You're physically comfortable in an industrial environment and an early start doesn't slow you down You have the engineering depth to read a P&ID, interpret a trend, and understand what a system is telling you You're self-directed and reliable — on-site autonomy suits you You're low-ego and safety-first, and you don't need to be chased for updates What You'll Get: A central role in proving a first-of-a-kind carbon capture technology at industrial scale Close collaboration with a high-caliber engineering and commissioning team Relocation assistance to Trois-Rivières, QC A clear path toward greater scope and seniority as Mantel's project portfolio grows We provide competitive and holistic compensation to all our full-time team members, including: Highly competitive pay based on experience, including equity 90% subsidized medical and dental healthcare coverage for employees, 50% for dependents (100% in Canada) Unlimited vacation policy, mental health personal days, generous sick leave, plus a week-long winter break at the end of December Health/Fitness and cell phone stipend Paid parental leave