Inside RIX

With decades of expertise in chemical engineering, hands-on involvement in industrial gas applications, and a passion for clean energy markets, Dean Alvarado brings a uniquely valuable lens to his role at RIX Industries. In this Inside RIX Q&A, he shares a journey that spans R&D labs, membrane-based gas separation, sales engineering, and now business development for emerging energy opportunities in hydrogen, landfill gas, and beyond.

Q: How did your career path lead you to RIX Industries?

A: I like to say I’m probably the lone chemical engineer at RIX surrounded by mechanical engineers. I graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in chemical engineering and started my career at SRI International, a nonprofit R&D organization originally spun out of Stanford. There, I worked on gas separation technologies, basically building systems that purify gases for downstream use.

After six years, it was clear that I would need a PhD to move up. I wasn’t ready to go back to school, so I transitioned into sales engineering at Membrane Technology & Research. I spent more than 15 years there, designing and selling gas recovery systems to petrochemical plants.

When I left, I dabbled in selling vibration mounts for a Japanese company, but that just wasn’t a fit. By then, I realized large-scale industrial technologies was the place for me. RIX checked every box: major equipment, compression systems, and applications tied to energy and gas markets. They hired me in 2018, and that led to the role I’m in today. 

Q: How would you describe your role in a sentence or two?

A: I develop business opportunities for RIX’s oil-free reciprocating compressors used in industrial applications, everything from nitrogen and oxygen to hydrogen compression for clean energy. In short, I help customers find the right compression solutions, especially in markets that are still evolving. 

Q: What aspects of your work give you the strongest sense of impact?

A: I think my impact is felt most in newer clean energy markets like hydrogen and landfill gas. Because of my background, my team often asks me to translate new ideas or technologies into something practical: Is this real? Can we support it? How does it work? That’s where I can help accelerate understanding, and eventually, opportunity.

Q: You’ve been closely involved in hydrogen projects. What makes that work meaningful to you?

A: We’re supplying compressors for hydrogen applications in Japan. Think refueling stations and sites that operate like “hydrogen hubs” producing hydrogen from solar power and distribute it via tube trailers to support regional use. The compressors aren’t new, but the impact is. We’re enabling clean transportation and supporting real-world hydrogen fuel ecosystems. That’s exciting. 

Q: What technologies or markets are shifting the fastest right now?

A: Hydrogen has been through a reality check. For a while, there was huge enthusiasm around private hydrogen vehicles. Now the focus has shifted to heavy-duty trucking because the economics make more sense there. That’s where we’ll see the real proving ground. If hydrogen takes hold in trucking, the infrastructure will follow, and private vehicles may eventually come back into the conversation.

Landfill gas recovery is another rapidly evolving area. The technology exists today, but optimization is needed to make it more broadly attractive and economically sustainable. What I learned recently is that these systems aren’t run by landfill operators; they’re installed and operated by specialized integrators. That’s a key insight as RIX explores the market. 

Q: How does customer input shape your work?

A: Honestly, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned as a business development professional is to listen more than I speak. Coming from a technical background, I used to jump in with solutions. Now I let customers talk through their challenges, ask open questions, and take those needs back to our engineering teams. You learn more by listening, and many times, customers end up defining the solution themselves. 

Q: Are there any engineering challenges you’re working closely on?

A: Hydrogen sealing is a big one and remains tough industry wide. Our compressors can theoretically reach pressures above 350 bar, but seal degradation becomes a major issue above 200 bar. We’re collaborating with engineering to develop higher-pressure capabilities, and when we solve it, we’ll open the door to more heavy-duty hydrogen applications. 

Q:How do you hope your role evolves as RIX grows into new markets?



A: I’d like to play a meaningful part in expanding RIX’s role in clean energy. I’m a believer that we need to decrease our dependence on fossil fuels, but I also recognize it won’t be one perfect solution. Hydrogen, renewable natural gas, and other technologies will need to work together. I’d like to help build that future within RIX, ideally through a more defined clean energy segment over time.