Lead Process Engineer

Synthomer is a leading supplier of high-performance, highly specialised polymers and ingredients that play vital roles in key sectors such as coatings, construction, adhesives, and health and protection – growing markets that serve billions of end users worldwide. Headquartered in London, UK and publicly listed there since 1971, we employ c.3,900 employees across our 5 innovation centres of excellence and more than 29 manufacturing sites across Europe, North America and Asia. Around 20% of our sales volumes are from new and patent protected products.

At our innovation centres of excellence in the UK, Germany, China, Malaysia and Ohio, USA we collaborate closely with our customers to develop new products and enhance existing ones tailored to their needs, with an increasing range of sustainability benefits. Since 2021, we have been proud holders of the London Stock Exchange Green Economy Mark, which recognises green technology businesses making a significant contribution to a more sustainable, low-carbon economy.

Purpose of the Job:

Based within the Regional Process Design Engineering team, this role is responsible for leading and delivering process engineering scope for capital investment projects (CAPEX) that support business growth, operational improvements, and enhancements to existing and new manufacturing facilities.

The position works closely with key stakeholders to define project scope, establish design intent, and develop concept solutions. As part of a multidisciplinary engineering team, the role supports the full project lifecycle, including concept development, basic and detailed engineering, project execution, commissioning, and start-up.

Key responsibilities include taking ownership of all process engineering aspects of assigned projects and driving engineering deliverables, including development of the Basis of Design, process design documentation, engineering calculations, process safety studies, risk assessments, commissioning plans, and start-up activities, ensuring projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and in alignment with business objectives.

Main Accountabilities:

Projects – Active participation in projects to generate deliverables and deliver process design 

Lead and manage all process engineering activities for assigned CAPEX projects. Ensure process scope of projects are delivered within time, to budget and to the required quality. Develop process concepts, Basis of Design (BoD), and engineering design documentation. Define process scope and design intent in collaboration with key stakeholders. Support multidisciplinary engineering teams throughout the project lifecycle. Prepare and review deliverables for process safety studies, risk assessments, and hazard reviews. Prepare and review process calculations, mass and energy balances, PFDs, and P&IDs. Ensure compliance with company standards, regulatory requirements, and engineering best practices. Drive safe, reliable, and cost-effective process solutions that meet business and operational needs. Lead project development, act as lead responsible engineer on a project Responsible for the checking and approval of external and internal process engineering deliverables for projects, ensuring consistency, quality and accuracy Technical appraise vendors and sub-contractors for suitability of equipment and personnel. Responsible for checking & approval of third party design work & documents to ensure compliance to Synthomer standards. Provide Process Engineering cost estimates to Project Managers. Ensure all related information is suitably documented and updated. Provide technical support during construction. Support commissioning strategy, develop plans, leads the team completing commissioning and start-up activities, reporting of progress.

Leadership – Team leadership, and People Management

Ensure safe implementation of all activities, ensuring full adherence to Safety Golden Rules, SHE principles, best practices and Site Regulations  Defines and leads process resource requirements assigned to the project. Support Process Design Manager to develop department resource plans Supervises, checks and approves the work of senior & process engineers in the team Is a positive and visual leader of process engineering and process safety within the team. Drives consistency in process engineering design & development, through standardization and implementation of Engineering Best Practices throughout capital projects. Ensures all process engineering work meets the required company standards and statutory with local and international standards.

Expected Deliverables:

Provision of scope of work and process discipline resource plan for projects (including software as necessary) Supports process design manager to develop and maintain process engineering tools e.g. template, engineering best practice, procedures, models, and project documentation. Check and approve process design deliverables confirming suitability and accuracy of solutions proposed Ensure that the process and commissioning deliverables follow departmental and company standards.
 

🌍 Global Benefits Overview

• 💰 Competitive, market-aligned compensation

• 🎯 Discretionary global bonus scheme

• 📈 Discretionary Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) – for senior positions

• 🚗 Company car or car allowance – varies by region and role

• 🩺 Healthcare – tailored to regional locations

• 👶 Parental leave and family support – maternity, paternity, adoption (aligned with regional policies)

• 🏡 Working options – flexibility where it matters, based on role and business needs

• 📚 Learning & development opportunities – training, online platforms, buddy/mentorship programs, Internal Synthomer University with L&D offers

• 💙 Wellbeing support – employee assistance program (EAP), mental health resources, wellbeing initiatives

• 🌱 Retirement / pension contributions – plans vary by country

• 🤝 Culture of Inclusion – where everyone can thrive

• 🏆 Performance culture, global reward & recognition programmes