Development Engineer

POSITION OVERVIEW:

Startec Compression & Process is currently recruiting a Development Engineer to work at our Glenmore Office (Suite 240, 4000 Glenmore Court SE, Calgary, AB, T2C 5R8). The Development Engineer provides technical, research, and estimation support to the Business Development group, contributing to early-phase project development, technical assessments, and proposal preparation.This is a hybrid technical and commercial engineering role, with approximately 25% focused on product development and innovation (new technologies, vendor relationships, and process concept development) and 75% focused on process engineering and estimation activities (simulation, sizing, optimization, and cost evaluation).The Development Engineer plays a key role in bridging technical feasibility with commercial opportunity—ensuring that proposed solutions are both innovative and executable.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPI):

Process Simulation & Equipment Modelling

• Use simulation tools (e.g., Symmetry, ProMax, or equivalent) to evaluate process efficiency, mass/energy balances, and equipment performance.
• Evaluate Vendor Supplier equipment using Vendor Software i.e. Ariel, Frick, Evonik etc.

Process Design Support

• Generate Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs) and Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) to define system design concepts.
• Perform equipment sizing and selection for vessels, compressors, exchangers, valves, and other mechanical components.
• Prepare and review heat exchanger designs using HTRI software.

Estimate Development

• Create Packaging Plan using Startec tools i.e. Visio
• Develop Project Estimates using Startec Estimation Tools.

RFQ & Vendor Coordination

• Prepare and issue Requests for Quotation (RFQs) for major process equipment following Startec’s procedures.
• Review vendor submissions and evaluate against project requirements, ensuring technical and commercial alignment.

Documentation & Communication

• Prepare design reports, summaries, and calculations supporting business cases and client proposals.
• Clearly communicate process designs and assumptions to internal stakeholders and external clients.

FEASIBILITY STUDIES & FEED (Weighting 35%)Techno-Economic Analysis

• Assess customer requirements and propose technically and commercially viable design options.
• Work with estimating tools or Application team to obtain vendor budgetary quotes and align costs with proposals.
• Develop techno-economic analyses for proposed solutions.

Technical Representation

• Provide clear and concise technical inputs for client-facing materials and presentations.
• Work with cross functional teams to coordinate & progress technical initiatives on projects.
• Develop the required technical deliverables

Proposal & Report Support

• Prepare final reports for Feasibility & FEED Studies
• Support the Business Development team in preparing proposals for projects.

TECHNICAL RESEARCH & PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT (Weighting 15%)Vendor & Technology Research

• Research emerging technologies, vendors, and solutions applicable to process and energy transition markets.
• Develop technical summaries and recommendations based on performance, cost, and risk analyses.
• Support the development of strategic vendor partnerships to expand Startec’s technology portfolio.

Innovation & Concept Development

• Contribute to conceptual engineering of new process systems or modular equipment packages.
• Evaluate technical feasibility and cost-benefit of novel or alternative process designs.
• Collaborate with internal teams to prototype or pilot new system configurations and performance improvements.

Technical Benchmarking

• Conduct comparative case studies of process configurations and document findings to support decision-making.
• Maintain awareness of current industry trends, standards, and competitive solutions.

PROCESS OPTIMIZATION & TROUBLESHOOTING (Weighting 10%)Operations Support

• Participate in facility troubleshooting, performance evaluation, and debottlenecking studies as required.
• Provide process expertise to operating teams for improvement or modification projects.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities for optimization of design practices and tools.
• Maintain and update internal process databases, equipment sizing tools, and design templates.

Collaboration, Documentation & Reporting (Weighting: 5%)Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Project Engineering, Estimating, and Business Development teams to ensure alignment between technical feasibility and business goals.
• Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, providing timely updates and data-driven recommendations.

Documentation & Recordkeeping

• Maintain consistent and organized filing of technical data, vendor correspondence, and simulation reports.
• Ensure traceability and version control of all project-related documentation

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical, Mechanical, or Process Engineering (required).
• 5+ years of experience in process simulation and design, preferably in oil & gas, energy, or process plant industries.
• Proven expertise with gas processing & compression system design.
• Proficiency with Symmetry, HTRI, ProMax, and other process design software.
• Strong understanding of process systems and related equipment (compressors, coolers, exchangers, vessels, pumps, lines).
• Excellent technical, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver quality results under tight deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate technical data into actionable recommendations.
• Collaborative and proactive work style, with a focus on continuous learning and improvement.

We offer competitive wages, training, flexible, dynamic, and exciting work environment.