R&D/Pilot Plant Operations Manager

Company overview

Lydian is developing the lowest cost sustainable fuels from waste CO2, water, and renewable electricity to decarbonize the aviation industry. Our breakthrough technology replaces oil and gas refining with fully electrified, modular, and flexible reactor systems that produce fuel with 95% lower emissions than traditional jet fuel.

Since our founding in 2021, Lydian has achieved key milestones in record time, including the production of our first liquid fuel from our pilot system, capable of producing ~10,000 gallons of fuel per year for a fraction of the capital and time of alternative approaches. Lydian is backed by top climate investors including Congruent Ventures, Galvanize Climate Solutions, Union Square Ventures, Voyager Ventures, Grok Ventures, and Overture. We are building a motivated, diverse, and collaborative team that is passionate about addressing the growing climate crisis and is committed to excellence in their work. In particular, we look for tenacious people who are energized by solving the hardest, highest impact problems that come their way.

Position overview

Lydian is looking for an R&D/Pilot Plant Operations Manager to be the principal steward of our 24,000+ SF research laboratory and pilot-scale process facility. Reporting directly to the CTO, this role will ensure uninterrupted operation of critical utilities and equipment, champion environmental health and safety (EHS) compliance, and deliver best-in-class facilities support to a multidisciplinary R&D team.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned, hands-on operator who balances strategic oversight with the willingness to roll up their sleeves when issues arise and is willing to challenge vendors and contractors to provide the required service beyond the status quo. Attention to detail, pride in maintaining a clean and organized facility, and technical roots are highly desirable qualities for this role.

Key responsibilities

• Facility & equipment reliability

  • Oversee daily operation and preventive maintenance of electrolyzer, HVAC systems, compressed-gas distribution, chilled-water, bulk gas supply, and R&D/pilot systems.

  • Administer a computerized maintenance-management system, analyze trend data, and coordinate vendor service contracts.

• Logistics & materials handling

  • Manage shipping, receiving, and safe movement of laboratory equipment, hazardous materials, and consumables.

  • Maintain inventory of critical spares and implement 5S/lean practices across workspaces.

• EHS & regulatory compliance

  • Serve as site EHS lead, maintaining SDS libraries, executing LOTO/hot-work/confined-space programs, and coordinating periodic audits with external consultants as necessary.

  • Liaise with municipal, state, and federal authorities (OSHA, EPA, MA DEP, Boston Fire Department) to maintain all required permits.

• Capital projects & space planning

  • Scope utility upgrades (electrical, gases, water), prepare bid packages, manage contractors, and track schedules and budgets through commissioning.

• Administrative & training duties

  • Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs), access-control protocols, and onboarding materials for new users.

  • Track key performance indicators (uptime, mean time to repair, maintenance spend) and report monthly to leadership.

Qualifications

• 5-10+ years of experience in facilities management.

• Prior exposure to laboratory, pilot plant, or industrial plant operations with high-temperature, gas-handling reactor systems.

• Massachusetts refrigeration, electrical, or hoisting license; DOT hazardous-materials shipping certification; or First-Responder/CPR training preferred.

• Fluency in Excel, including budget and project tracking.

• Alignment with our mission, vision, and virtues.

Company culture and benefits

• Challenging, collaborative, and meaningful work and an important voice in company development.

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.

• Meaningful equity compensation.

• Unlimited PTO and expectation that all employees take significant time off to rest, recharge, and enjoy life outside work.

• Excellent health insurance with 100% of healthcare, vision and dental premiums covered.

• 401(k) with company match.