Membrane Application Engineer

Chem-Aqua, Inc. is a subsidiary of NCH Corporation, focused on water treatment solutions. They are seeking a Membrane Application Engineer to design and deliver comprehensive water treatment systems, translating water quality challenges into engineered solutions and supporting various teams in project execution and technical expertise.

Responsibilities:

• Lead full-scope process design from:
• Raw water characterization and risk assessment
• Pretreatment strategy (media filtration, softening, chemical dosing)
• Membrane system design and integration
• Final polishing and compliance to water quality specs
• Design complete treatment trains including:
• Ion exchange (softeners, demin systems)
• Ultrafiltration (UF), Microfiltration (MF)
• Reverse Osmosis (RO), Nanofiltration (NF)
• Post-treatment (UV, polishing, storage)
• Serve as the technical authority on membrane systems, including:
• Membrane selection across OEM vendors
• Performance modeling and scaling projections
• Fouling risk assessment (organic, inorganic, biological)
• Optimize system performance by integrating:
• Pretreatment strategies
• Chemical programs (antiscalants, biocides, cleaners)
• Cleaning (CIP) protocols
• Translate designs into practical, installable systems that perform in real-world conditions
• Support:
• System commissioning and startup
• Performance troubleshooting and optimization
• Root cause analysis for fouling, scaling, and failure events
• Partner closely with engineering, field service, and commercial teams to ensure successful project delivery
• Deliver cost-effective, reliable, and scalable solutions for industrial and municipal customers
• Support proposal development, system sizing, and technical justification
• Provide expertise in customer-facing discussions and solution positioning

Requirements:

• 3–5+ years of experience designing and applying water treatment systems in real-world environments
• Proven experience with complete system integration, not just individual components
• Strong working knowledge of: RO, UF, NF, MF membrane systems
• Pretreatment processes and system dependencies
• Ion exchange and high-purity water systems
• Demonstrated ability to interpret water chemistry and translate into engineered designs
• Process design and system sizing
• Membrane modeling tools
• Strong understanding of fouling, scaling, and chemical control strategies
• Ability to balance performance, cost, and operability
• Experience with OEM system integrators or packaged system providers
• Hands-on involvement in startup, commissioning, or field troubleshooting
• Familiarity with industrial applications such as: Food & beverage, Power / boiler systems, Manufacturing or reuse / wastewater