Test Engineer - Biochar PilotNew

Test Engineer - Biochar Pilot

Portsmouth, Virginia

AMP is ing AI-powered sortation at scale to modernize the world's recycling infrastructure and maximize the value in waste. AMP gives waste and recycling leaders the power to harness AI to reduce labor costs, increase resource recovery, and deliver more reliable operations. With hundreds of deployments across North America, Asia, and Europe, AMP's technology offers a transformational solution to waste sortation and changes the fundamental economics of recycling.

Headquartered in Louisville, Colorado, the Denver Post and BuiltIn Colorado have recognized AMP as one of the state's top workplaces. AMP has operations and career opportunities outside of Atlanta, Cleveland, Portsmouth, Virginia, and Europe. We're fostering an environment w passionate individuals can grow and create impact. We seek unconventional thinkers to join our mission to enable a world without waste; at AMP, your contributions have meaning and can spur change. With backing from top-tier investors and national recognition including North American Cleantech Company of the Year, we're always seeking ways to better our operations, raising the bar on innovation, and looking to collaborate and improve in what we do. Learn more at AMPSortation.

We're looking for a hands-on Test Engineer to help operate, test, and improve a small-scale biochar pilot system in Portsmouth, VA. This is a field-based role at the intersection of waste processing, thermal conversion, and climate technology.

Our mission is to turn difficult waste streams into valuable products while helping build durable carbon removal solutions. This role is a great fit for someone who wants to work on real hardware, real waste streams, and real climate impact not just theory. You'll play a key part in generating the data, operational insight, and test discipline needed to scale a promising carbon removal pathway.

We're especially interested in candidates with experience in the waste, biomass,anics, high temperature processing or engineered fuels industries who are excited by the opportunity to that experience to a climate-focused startup environment.

What You'll Do

Pilot Operations & Test Execution

Execute test plans on a biochar system involving high-temperature thermal processes such as pyrolysis andbustion

Operate equipment processing municipal solid waste (MSW),anics, biomass, and engineered fuels

Handle, prepare, and feed variable waste streams safely and consistently

Perform system startups, shutdowns, inspections, and routine operating adjustments

Ensure tests are run consistently, safely, and in accordance with defined procedures

Data Collection, Analysis & Reporting

Collect, log, and validate operational and test data with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail

Track feedstock characteristics such as moisture, contamination, andposition variability, and relate those factors to system performance

Use Excel and other straightforward tools toanize, summarize, and interpret test data

Document results clearly and support development of repeatable test methods and operating procedures

Help identify trends, anomalies, and opportunities to improve performance and data quality

Scientific & Analytical Support

Support sample collection and characterization for biochar, feedstocks, and process outputs

Work with laboratory and analytical equipment used to evaluate material and process performance

Assist with validation of test methods and measurement quality across pilot and lab workflows

Contribute to data packages used to support technical development, reporting, and scale-up decisions

Continuous Improvement

Help identify process issues and support practical solutions during pilot operation

Improve test procedures, operating consistency, and data quality over time

Work closely with engineering and operations teams in a fast-moving pilot environment w systems and procedures are still evolving

What We're Looking For

Required

2-5 years of experience in an industrial, pilot, field, laboratory, or manufacturing environment

Experience in waste processing,anics handling, biomass, incineration, engineered fuels, or similar industrial sectors

Familiarity with high-temperature thermal systems or industrial process equipment

Strong attention to detail in data collection, documentation, and test execution

Experience using Excel for data tracking,anization, and basic analysis

Comfortable working in physically demanding industrial environments around waste streams and thermal equipment

Strong safety-first mindset and respect for hazardous equipment, variable feedstocks, and industrial operating conditions

Nice to Have

Experience handling MSW,anics, biomass, RDF, SRF, or other heterogeneous feedstocks

Background in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, environmental science, or a related technical field

Experience with lab-grade testing and analytical equipment, including:

Elemental analysis

TGA

Ultimate and proximate analysis

Moisture and ash testing

Other scientific instrumentation used for material characterization

Experience with MRV for CDR or familiarity with measurement, reporting, and verification approaches for carbon removal systems

Familiarity with DAQ systems, sensors, wiring, or instrumentation

Experience with pneumatic systems or propane/gas plumbing

Experience validating system performance, including debugging or identifying issues inputer vision systems

Who You Are

You're excited by the chance to work on a climate technology with real-world deployment potential

You'refortable working with waste-derived andanic feedstocks and understand the challenges of variable materials

You're methodical,anized, and care about generating clean, defensible data

You like being close to the process and can move between field work, test execution, and technical documentation

You take safety seriously and bring a practical, hands-on attitude to industrial work

You're energized by startup environments w priorities evolve and the team is building as it goes

Why This Role

Work on technology that connects waste management, carbon removal, and industrial decarbonization

Help convert real-world waste streams into useful products and measurable climate impact

Join a startup environment w your work will directly shape the pilot, the data, and the path to scale

Build experience across operations, testing, materials characterization, and climate-tech deployment

AMP provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, gics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Applicants who identify with a historically underrepresented group are encouraged to . This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence,pensation and training.